Arouse national pride
Nguyen Ngoc Duc’s chance to start painting agarwood stems from his burning passion for this precious wood. He shared that this passion had been nurtured for a long time, but was only truly ignited when he started his business more than a year ago.
Initially, he focused on popular art products such as jewelry and incense cones made from agarwood. However, during a visit to an art exhibition abroad, he was deeply impressed by the works of art made from agarwood. He realized that agarwood is not only a rare wood, but can also become a material for unique works of art, imbued with cultural and spiritual values. From there, the idea of an agarwood painting workshop began to take shape.
“When mentioning Quang Nam, people will think of many unique and valuable products such as Ngoc Linh ginseng, agarwood, etc. Vietnam has many artisans with a talent for painting, but agarwood paintings have not appeared yet. Based on those resources and human resources, I want to create unique and valuable works of art from the products I am trading,” Duc said.
Starting a new art form, Nguyen Ngoc Duc encountered many difficulties. He had to explore, research, and study production techniques himself, while also looking for quality raw materials.
“For someone taking the first steps, it will always be very difficult” - Ngoc Duc confided. But with passion and determination to pursue to the end, he gradually overcame the initial challenges, creating the first agarwood paintings with a strong personal mark.
In early 2023, the first agarwood paintings were born. With 100% agarwood shell material, using high-quality glue imported from Germany that does not affect the agarwood scent, Duc's paintings are guaranteed to last forever.
The special thing about Nguyen Ngoc Duc’s agarwood paintings lies not only in the unique materials, but also in the “soul” and “spirit” breathed into each work. Each painting carries its own story, its own message, expressed through each delicate, meticulous line, from the eyes, the expression to the overall composition.
Ngoc Duc shared that the artistic value of agarwood paintings lies not only in the skillful cutting and pasting of agarwood grains and the appropriate agarwood colors that create realistic and vivid paintings, but also in the meaning and message that the author wants to convey.
In addition to the themes requested by customers, Duc Hoc Tram's paintings mainly depict portraits of leaders, heroes, historical battles, and national traditions. Duc Hoc Tram aspires to convey cultural and historical values, and arouse national pride in young people through Tram paintings.
VIDEO - Nguyen Ngoc Duc shares his story of starting a business with agarwood paintings.
To create portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, General Vo Nguyen Giap, etc., it takes 10 days to half a month to complete, while paintings about life take less time. Therefore, the price of works about life ranges from 3 to 10 million VND/painting, while paintings about leaders cost from 17 to 20 million VND/painting.
After more than 1 year of starting a business with agarwood paintings, Mr. Duc has sold nearly 100 works mainly through the Tiktok channel. However, in the beginning, he could not reach potential customers, so Duc Hoc Tram painting workshop still used capital from selling agarwood bracelets and incense sticks to nurture his passion for creating paintings, trying to convey the message of agarwood paintings to the community.
Giving opportunities to the disabled
Not only creating art, Nguyen Ngoc Duc also focuses on difficult circumstances, especially people with disabilities. He wants to build his painting studio into a favorable working environment, helping them have the opportunity to develop their talents, integrate into the community and become more confident in life.
At Duc Hoc Tram painting workshop, Mr. Do The Hai (Tam Xuan 1 commune, Nui Thanh district) has only been approaching this new genre for more than 10 days and is experimenting with collage. The starting point is graphics, 3D modeling. Although he is still clumsy, sometimes making mistakes and having to cut and paste again from the beginning, he is still full of enthusiasm, focusing on completing his first work.
Besides Hai, young man Nguyen Van Tri (born 2006, Tam Loc commune, Phu Ninh) just graduated from high school and has a stable job, salary 6 - 7 million VND/month at Mr. Duc's painting workshop.
Tri said: “I love art and have been self-taught in painting since middle school. But conditions did not allow me to continue studying. Luckily, I met Mr. Duc who created a job that suited my passion, with a higher income than my previous service job. I am about to join the military, so I hope to continue my passion for painting here when I return.”
VIDEO - Ngoc Duc shares about his development orientation of agarwood paintings
The young hands at Duc Hoc Tram painting workshop are all enthusiastically instructed by teacher Chau Tung Duong (Tam Dan commune, Phu Ninh district) - who has accompanied Ngoc Duc since the very first days. For Duong, coming to Duc Hoc Tram was a fate when he was struggling to find a job. As for Duc, after spending more than a week with him, he discovered that Duong is disabled. "But he is talented, meticulous and very hard-working. So I want to create job opportunities for people with disabilities who are capable, because I think they will try much harder" - Duc shared.
Mr. Duong confided: “At first, making agarwood paintings was very awkward! I also used to tear and paste, but using paper or leaves is softer and more colorful. Separating agarwood bark for a long time will hurt your hands, the bark color is also less rich, it is very difficult to arrange the light and dark color blocks harmoniously, describe the volume and the prominence. But after a long time, I got used to it, imagine it as an LED screen with colored dots, I separate the agarwood bark, choose agarwood fibers to paste on the carved picture. Up to now, I have tried to breathe life into agarwood paintings, and also guide new friends on how to make them beautiful, productive, and effective.”
Since then, Mr. Duc has also paid more attention to people with disabilities who have a passion for painting, giving them the opportunity to show their talents and earn extra income to take care of themselves and their families.
In the future, the young man who started his business from agarwood intends to guide the workers at his painting workshop to create and sell agarwood artworks themselves. And more meaningfully, social values will be spread, and difficult circumstances will be helped by Duc's agarwood paintings.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/doc-dao-tranh-tram-huong-den-gia-tri-van-hoa-lich-su-3148279.html
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