Meritorious artisan A Gông (right) teaches one of his student to make wooden statues, as a way to preserve Mơ Nâm ethnic culture. – VNA/VNS Photo

KON TUM – Artisan A Gông is striving to preserve the cultural values through traditional wood sculpting for the Mơ Nâm ethnic minority in Kon Dum Village, Kon Tum Province

Reviving their wood sculpting tradition is Gông’s goal for the Mơ Nâm people in order to fight cultural extinction.

His family has long-standing tradition in sculpting, and the young Gông learned from his father and other elders in the village and practised carving on wood logs using rudimentary tools such as chisels and knives.

Through his artworks, Gông wants to show people the lifestyles and traditions of numerous ethnic groups in the Central Highlands.

For many ethnic people, wooden figures are only used for building charnels, but Gong and other Mơ Nâm people want to depict their daily activities, such as planting, hunting, and rice crushing, said Gông.

Mơ Nâm wooden statues are usually small, 15cm in diameter and 30-40cm in length, and appear mostly in traditional festivals, in which villagers carry the sculptures while dancing to the rhythm of gongs (a traditional musical instrument).

The next morning, the statues are placed in front of rice granaries or water buffalo stables with a few rice grains around them, while the villagers pray for a successful growing season.

Besides traditional sculptures, Gông also creates statues representing his ancestors to express his commemoration and gratitude.

A Niêm, a 35-year-old villager, said that Gông’s portrait statues are very realistic, and the soulfulness in his works is what makes him special.

Mơ Nâm ethnics deem wooden statues not only to be a festive symbol but also a holy connection between them and loved ones, showing their family bonds and traditional living.

With Gông and other artisans' efforts in preserving ethnic culture, Kon Plông District has been focusing on providing tourists with local traditional experiences to develop the Măng Đen National Eco-Tourism Zone.

Through tourism activities, artisans can exhibit their art works, bringing cultural products closer to locals and foreigners as a way to preserve endangered traditional values.

For many years, Gông has been encouraging villagers, especially younger ones, to join his classes, teaching those interested in wood sculpting and actively participating in many cultural events.

Gông was awarded the title "Meritorious Artisan" in 2019 by the culture ministry for his dedication to preserving Mơ Nâm ethnic culture. – VNS