Mr. Quoc has a passion for making miniature models.

Passion

In his small workshop, by the lamp and in his simple workspace, Mr. Quoc meticulously creates exquisite accessory products every day. Despite being nearly seventy years old, his hands remain nimble and skillful. In just a moment, those hands transform a lifeless block of cement into the delicate shape of a crane.

While creating the wing grooves on the crane's body, Mr. Quoc recounted: "More than 30 years ago, I was very passionate about ornamental plants and bonsai. However, at that time, finding suitable accessories such as birds, animals, human figures, or houses and temples for bonsai was quite difficult. Therefore, I taught myself how to make these models and unexpectedly fell in love with the craft."

To create such lifelike artworks, besides observing real-life animals, he also had a special "teacher": the Animal Encyclopedia by Karen McGhee and Dr. George McKay. Whenever he had free time, he meticulously flipped through the pages, thoroughly studying the form, color, and expressions of each animal species. He said: "To give each product soul, in addition to determining the appropriate proportions, every line and structure of the animal must be carefully calculated. Along with that, the animal's posture must be elegant, and its face must clearly express emotion."

To achieve this, he has to focus absolutely on the animal. Whether it's as small as a fingertip or as large as a real animal, every movement of shaping, molding, and smoothing the cement block with his fingers must be careful and quick. "I use a mixture of cement and synthetic glue to increase the softness and durability of the product, so the waiting time is very limited. Therefore, I have to concentrate and work very quickly to shape it before the material hardens," Mr. Quoc explained.

Creative

Not only does he create animal sculptures, Mr. Quoc is also passionate about making many models from pumice stone. He shared: "With its porous and lightweight nature, this volcanic stone is both easy to polish and has a natural roughness. Therefore, pumice stone is the optimal choice to recreate brick floors, stone walls, as well as the ancient, mossy beauty of buildings."

To create a beautiful pumice stone model, besides meticulous craftsmanship, Mr. Quoc must also have a deep understanding of geometry and color coordination. Having honed his skills for many years, Mr. Quoc has vividly recreated the beauty of temples, pavilions, stilt houses, and traditional houses using pumice stone. Along with that, the ancient, moss-covered appearance of Phuoc Duyen Tower (Thien Mu Pagoda) or Phu Van Lau is also vividly reproduced by him.

As a long-time customer of Mr. Quoc, Mr. Huu Duy, a bonsai enthusiast in Hue, said: “When I saw the miniature structures that Mr. Quoc created, I was very impressed. Each structure, whether it's a tiny stilt house on the lagoon or the majestic Phuoc Duyen tower, is very realistic and soulful. Small details like the roughness of the corrugated iron roof or the moss on the tiled roof are very real, helping bonsai enthusiasts like us easily create works with depth and beauty that look like real life.”

Currently, Mr. Quoc's products are very diverse in terms of price range. There are small storks and cranes priced at only a few thousand dong, but there are also custom-ordered pieces with prices reaching several million dong.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, Mr. Quoc quietly keeps the flame of his craft alive in his small workshop. More than just decorative items for potted plants and miniature landscapes, each handcrafted product leaving the workshop carries the story of the dedication of a talented craftsman, the creator of the unique beauty of products made from pumice stone.

Text and photos: TUỆ LÂM

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/tao-hinh-tu-da-bot-163809.html