Ceramic sacred animals tell cultural stories

The event has attracted the attention from various painters, cultural researchers, pottery art lovers, and those who want to lean about Vietnamese traditions.

On display are 72 pottery paintings and statues which represent the artist’s style. With the combination of visual elements of painting and sculpture and the inheritance of the quintessence of traditional Bat Trang ceramics with new creative explorations in designs and enamel colours, artist Tran Nam Tuoc has created many modern ceramic works that are both aesthetic and practical.

Sacred animals have been present in the lives of the Vietnamese people since ancient times. They may be mythical creatures or real animals that are sacred for their representation of a specific character or belief. According to artist Tran Nam Tuoc, he has a treasure trove of precious documents including about 3,000 handmade drawings of sacred animals, worshiping statues, architectural decorations, and murals at communal houses, pagodas, temples, shrines, and cultural works in various localities around the country.

Visitors to the exhibition have the chance to admire many unique sacred animals who are kept at relic sites and spiritual tourist sites in the country or abroad such as dragon horses, horses, phoenixes, dragons, and unicorns.

Meritorious Artist Tran Nam Tuoc brought sacred animals to Hung King Temple (in Phu Tho Province), Thang Long Imperial Citadel (in Hanoi), Tran Temple (in Thai Binh Province), Lam Kinh Relic Site (in Thanh Hoa Province), Worshiping House dedicated to General Vo Nguyen Giap (in Quang Binh Province), and Truong Sa Lon Island (in Khanh Hoa Province).

On the occasion, artist Tran Nam Tuoc introduced an eponymous book telling the story of his chance to come to pottery, Bat Trang Pottery Village, and many deep memories from his process of wandering around the country to approach the customs and beliefs expressed through the image of sacred animals.