Breathing the spirit of the World Cup into eggshells.

Without the fiery atmosphere of a stadium or the fervent cheers of the stands, the spirit of the 2026 World Cup is still present in the small room of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam.

Even in retirement, Mr. Tam still diligently works at his desk with small paintbrushes, miniature scissors, and hundreds of eggshells of all sizes. From quail eggs, chicken eggs, duck eggs to goose eggs and ostrich eggs, through the skillful hands and creative mind of the 75-year-old former teacher, they all become unique works of art reflecting global sports and culture.

Recreating the World Cup mascot on an eggshell.

To celebrate the 2026 World Cup, the biggest football event on the planet, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam has just completed a collection of three mascots representing the three co-hosting nations: Maple the Deer of Canada, Zayay the Leopard of Mexico, and Clutch of the United States.

From fragile eggshells, the elderly artist is telling a very different story about the World Cup – not through goals or the prestigious gold trophy, but through the passion, creativity, and enduring love of sports of a Vietnamese person for world football. Each piece is meticulously crafted on this delicate material – a material that seems as though it would shatter with just a light touch.

Notably, to complete the three works with a relatively high degree of accuracy compared to the original emblem, Mr. Tam applied his years of research. From images of the World Cup mascot on posters and newspapers, he envisioned and sketched 3D models that could display angles, depth, and texture. After completing the framework, he refined and colored, drew patterns, and applied adhesive to the surface of the model to create a realistic effect.

"It took me three weeks to complete the three mascots, Maple Deer, Zayay Leopard, and Clutch, to promote the 2026 World Cup. The 2026 World Cup holds special historical significance as it will be the first tournament to expand to 48 teams, and also the first to be co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Soon, I will complete the 48 national flags on eggshells representing the 48 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup," Mr. Tam affirmed, stating that he will be the first Vietnamese person to create so many World Cup-themed artworks on eggshells.

What's remarkable is that he not only created the mascot for the 2026 World Cup but also accompanied many previous World Cups with unique works of art. In 2010 in South Africa, he created the mascot Zakumi; in 2014 in Brazil, Fuleco; in 2018 in Russia, Zabivaka; and for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, La'eeb. Through each World Cup, his collection serves as an artistic diary recording his emotions and love for football over many years.

Record holder for eggshell sculpting.

Few people know that before becoming a renowned artist specializing in eggshell sculpting, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam was a teacher. One day, he had the idea to create a "Santa Claus" figure as a visual and engaging teaching aid for his students. He experimented with eggshells and successfully created his first artwork in 2002.

Later, he went on to recreate models of the 12 zodiac animals, the Earth God, and the God of Wealth. Realizing that eggshells could be used to create many complex works of art without incurring significant costs, artisan Nguyen Thanh Tam gradually developed a passion and dedication to researching this craft. Without using molds, he manually drilled holes, cleaned the insides of the eggs, and then used the broken pieces of eggshell to assemble, paint, and attach them into complete 3D shapes.

He excitedly recounted, "After years of research, I invented a way to extract the egg yolk without affecting the overall texture. The eggshell is used to create artwork, while the yolk is processed into delicious dishes. This hobby really only requires effort and ingenuity!"

In 2010, Mr. Tam was recognized as a Vietnamese record holder for "The person who has created the most sculptures from eggshells." To date, his collection has surpassed 1,000 pieces with diverse themes, ranging from fairy tale characters, scenic landscapes, Vietnamese folk culture imagery, the most famous cartoon characters of all time, logos of world-renowned brands, to sports symbols and mascots from the World Cup, Euro, Olympics, and SEA Games.

The desire to popularize the art of handicrafts.

In the small exhibition room, thousands of eggshells are carefully arranged like a miniature art world. Some works take days to complete, requiring absolute precision in every cut and stroke. For Mr. Tam, each eggshell is not only a creative material but also carries a message about cherishing and preserving the values ​​of life.

According to him, the art of sculpting with eggshells is not simply a craft hobby but also has great educational value. Those who practice it must cultivate patience, observation skills, and creativity. It's also a way to relax the mind and reduce stress amidst the fast-paced modern life.

"When I'm creating art, I forget all my fatigue and stress. I want to inspire people to see that even the smallest things can create beautiful value," Mr. Tam said.

He revealed that his family had initially discouraged him because the effort he put into it didn't yield any economic value. "Many brands and investors have contacted me for collaboration, but most haven't properly appreciated the value of my handcrafted works. I hope to soon have the opportunity to display and exhibit my products at famous tourist destinations in Vietnam. I am ready to share my experience, teach diligently, and exchange skills with those who are passionate about this art form," artisan Nguyen Thanh Tam expressed his hope.

At the age of seventy, Mr. Tam continues to create, constantly producing new works that symbolize the culture and sports of the year, preserving joy and creativity in life. Besides his skillful hands and extraordinary imagination, Mr. Tam is also proficient in teaching music and foreign languages.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-hon-world-cup-vao-vo-trung-196260531153940933.htm