From the "white" zone of the restoration worker
When applying international standards in the conservation of My Son relics since 2003, the biggest shortage was the human resources for restoration. Experts could come from within the country or internationally, but workers had to be local. However, local restorers at that time seemed to start from zero.
Starting from approaching new methods, new materials and techniques at the brick relics in My Son, restoration workers not only need guidance but also have to learn and explore the necessary skills themselves.
In about 20 years, more than 100 skilled workers were trained and practiced from the projects and they became one of the main human resources contributing to the success of the projects of groups G, A, H and K.
Mr. Nguyen Van Nam (born in 1963, in Nhuan Son village, Duy Phu commune) is considered the "master craftsman" in the restoration project. He said: "When restoring, we have to explore and learn more. Using otter oil to bind bricks or mortar mixed from brick powder is the first time we do it. Only then do we realize that ancient bricks are different from modern bricks, each piece is different, chiseling so that it does not break, grinding so that it is even, and aligning so that it fits. Sculpting and shaping so that it is pleasing to the eye. We have to tinker with it every day to find out. It is hard work, but when we finish restoring a tower, we feel happy and proud because we have contributed to the local heritage."
Mr. Nguyen Van Ban, a local stonemason, has been in the restoration business for more than 10 years. He has done most of the restoration work on architectural components or stone structures.
He said: “Ancient stonemasons had very high techniques, no matter how simple or complex the structure was, they did it very carefully and precisely. The combination of bricks and stones was very skillful, the joints between stone and bricks were very tight and sturdy. They knew very well the properties of sandstone. Which stone was used to make altars, which stone was used to make decorative columns, the same type of sandstone but the stone used to make statues was of the highest quality. Their dimensions and measurements were like “golden molds and jade rulers” so they were very accurate.”
From many different professions, local people approach a completely new profession, new methods and techniques, new materials. They are called the team of heritage restorers.
Facing a shortage of workers
Together with technical staff and experts, local restorers have helped preserve many structures in My Son as well as in the Central region over the past decades. They have become an indispensable human resource in preserving the My Son heritage.
However, My Son is now facing a shortage of skilled workers. Mr. Nguyen Van Nam said: “This job looks like it is very hard. I am often assigned to tutor and guide new workers. There are those who are willing to learn, accept the working conditions and stick with it. But there are also many young people who work for a short time and then go to other jobs with higher incomes.”
Mr. Vo Van Co, from My Son village, is one of the “darlings” of Italian experts in archaeology because of his excellent exploratory and excavation skills. However, in recent years, he has changed jobs after completing the restoration project of Tower G.
Likewise, Mr. Vo Van Thien - a skilled worker with nearly 20 years of experience in archaeology and restoration, but could not stay in the profession. Mr. Thien said: “The daily wage is too low and working in hot conditions, sitting in the excavation pit or climbing the restoration tower, the salary is lower than that of a construction worker outside. The work is also unstable, not always available, excavation and restoration depend on the project. Some years yes, some years no, each year only 4-5 months of work can be done.”
For large projects with nearly a hundred workers working together, the payment for renovation workers is similar to that of construction workers. According to the latest decision of the Department of Construction of Quang Nam province in Document No. 258/QD-SXD dated December 25, 2023 on the announcement of construction worker unit prices in Quang Nam province, the payment level applied in Duy Xuyen district, group II for construction workers of level 2/7 is 210,304 VND, level 3/7 is 247,731 VND. Compared to labor prices on the market, this payment level is difficult to retain skilled renovation workers.
From a “white” area of restoration workers, through conservation projects over the past 20 years, hundreds of workers have become skilled in restoration. But now it is difficult to maintain the profession.
The project may end, but the conservation work cannot stop. Without the hands of skilled, professional workers, the most important resource in conservation is lacking, lacking people to pass on the skills, techniques and folk knowledge accumulated over the past 20 years. Therefore, caring for the team of skilled restorers is also caring for the sustainability of the heritage...
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/nguy-co-thieu-tho-trung-tu-di-tich-3149387.html
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