(CLO) The brilliant light of the kiln illuminates the faces deeply wrinkled by time. There, two skillful hands are creating unique works of art, bearing the mark of earth and fire...
Special love for pottery
In the quiet space of the pottery workshop, the skillful hands of artisan Nguyen Van Loi are shaping a Raku glazed vase. Each line, each crack on the surface of the product contains the soul of the artist. Next to him, Mrs. Pham Thi Minh Chau is meticulously painting an exquisite pattern. This artisan couple has devoted their lives to preserving and developing the traditional ceramic art of Bat Trang village.
Artist Nguyen Van Loi.
The journey of Nguyen Van Loi and Pham Thi Minh Chau is like a love song between earth and fire. Together they have overcome many hardships, turning invisible blocks of clay into vivid works of art, contributing to beautifying the spiritual life of many people. Every line and color on their ceramic products contains their passion and love for Bat Trang craft village.
In 1986, a new door opened for Bat Trang craft village. Two artisans seized the opportunity and together built a small pottery workshop.
They are like magicians, transforming invisible blocks of clay into vivid works of art. Their hands skillfully caress each line, creating vases and plates with soft curves. Every time they touch the clay, they seem to be immersed in nature, feeling the warmth of Mother Earth.
The days spent working hard in the pottery workshop were the happiest days of their lives. They went through many hardships and challenges together, but their passion for pottery always urged them to constantly create. There were nights when they stayed up all night to complete a piece of work, and there were times when the product broke in the kiln, making them sad, but then they got up and started again.
The exquisite vases are created by the hands of two artisans.
"We find joy in every line, every color. Each completed work is our brainchild. There are times when we work until we forget about time. The flickering light reflects the two of us on the ceramic vases still wet with dew. Those are sacred moments, moments when we feel truly alive," shared artist Pham Thi Minh Chau.
The unique beauty of imperfection
Raku glaze, a type of glaze with a distinctly Japanese character, has come to Vietnam and found a new home in the pottery workshop of artisan Nguyen Van Loi. However, mastering this type of glaze in a country with a different climate and raw materials is no small challenge. Many nights, he tossed and turned in front of the kiln, trying to conquer the mysteries of Raku glaze. Finally, with perseverance and passion, he created works that bear his personal mark.
"Raku glaze for me is not just a type of glaze. It is a symbol of perfection in imperfection. The cracks and the unexpected color changes create a unique beauty for each product. It is a lesson in life: nothing is perfect, but in that imperfection there is still its own beauty," the artisan expressed.
The color palette of Raku glaze is a world of surprising colors.
Unlike traditional ceramics, Raku glaze is fired at a lower temperature, only about 850-1000 degrees Celsius. This difference creates unique features for this ceramic line. After firing, the product is still bright red and is hastily taken out of the kiln and goes through a dramatic "fire bath". When exposed to water or coloring agents such as ash or sawdust, the ceramic surface immediately develops delicate cracks and unexpected color patches, creating a very unique visual effect.
Artisan Nguyen Van Loi said that on the surface of each Raku vase, the tiny lines tell stories about its journey. These are craquelure cracks, the mark of sudden temperature changes when the product is immersed in cold water. These cracks are not destruction but part of the unique beauty, containing many stories about time.
Through their works, the two artisans want to share their love for clay, for life and for traditional values.
The color palette of Raku glaze is also a world of surprising colors. From hot colors like red, orange to dark colors like blue, black, each Raku vase has its own beauty. "The random combination of pigments and chemical reactions during the firing process creates unique color effects, making each product a unique work of art. It's like an abstract painting, each time we look at it, we discover new things," Mr. Nguyen Van Loi shared.
The clattering of the turntable, the smell of wet clay, the glowing red light of the kiln, from which each vase, each plate created has its own beauty, like a symphony of earth, fire and time. Nguyen Van Loi and Pham Minh Chau - two artisans have not only created ceramic products, but also created a story about creativity, about love for art and about the connection between the past and the present. Their success has brought Bat Trang ceramics far out into the world, affirming the position of Vietnamese ceramics on the world art map.
Through their works, they want to share their love for clay, for life and for traditional values. For them, pottery is not only a profession, but also a part of life, the pride of an entire family, the culture of a country.
Phan Anh
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hoi-tho-cua-lua-va-tam-hon-nghe-nhan-post330183.html
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