Beauty of Lu Cam pottery

Sculptor Doan Xuan Hung is introducing the beauty of Lu Cam pottery, which originated in Nha Trang in the 19th century, at an exhibition held at Khanh Hoa Museum (No. 16, Tran Phu Street, Nha Trang).

 

Doan Xuan Hung has been a well-known sculptor in Khanh Hoa. He was born in Nha Trang in 1960. He is the Chairman of Saigon Pottery Club and member of Vietnam Fine Arts Association. He has held four exhibitions, and many of his works won the prizes of the Vietnam Fine Art Association and local associations of literature and art at the national and regional exhibitions.  

 

Hung organized two private exhibitions of pottery during Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2009 (pottery of Cham people) and Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Sea Festival 2011 (Lu Cam Pottery). After many years commissioning of some projects in Ho Chi Minh City and other localities, Hung returned to Nha Trang to introduce his works of modern Lu Cam pottery to the public.  

 

 

This exhibition displays more than 150 items of Lu Cam pottery with different unique shapes on the subjects of Cham culture, legend, native land, childhood, love for family, and portrait. The exhibits reflect the culture of Cham people (Cham festival, praying for rain, pottery village). At the exhibition, the viewers can see the portrait sculptures of the famous historical figures in Vietnamese history (Trung Sisters, Dinh Bo Linh, Tran Binh Trong), and characters in the familiar folk stories of Vietnam (Bom, Thi Mau, etc.). Some works have impressed the viewers namely Simple Happiness, Childhood in Urban Areas, They Are Flying, My Friend.

 

Beside the Lu Cam coarse pottery, Doan Xuan Hung also included in the exhibition some works of pottery glaze and terracotta. As said by painter Le Vu, sculptor Doan Xuan Hung has brought pottery closer to the public. He showed his creativeness and succeeded in creating alternative works but still maintaining the characteristics of Lu Cam pottery. 

 

The subject of each sculpture is vividly shown through the design and sculpture skills. History professor Le Van Lan said after visiting the exhibition that each exhibited sculpture bears a message about the past and present. Nguyen Van Can, student of Khanh Hoa University shared that contemplating the works of sculptor Doan Van Hung was useful for his studying.  

 

Giang Đinh

Translated by H.N