A ceramic sculpture in the series Những Đóa Hoa Nẩy Mầm (Blossoming Flowers) by artist Nguyễn Thị Dũng, one of seven artists from the Sài Gòn Ceramic Arts Group, which is holding the Gốm Sài Gòn (Ceramic Arts of Sài Gòn) exhibition at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum. — Photo courtesy of the group

HCM CITY — Seven artists from the Sài Gòn Ceramic Arts Group are showing 170 ceramic sculptures depicting life, people and love in at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

Đoàn Xuân Hùng, head of the group, said the Gốm Sài Gòn (Ceramic Arts of Sài Gòn) exhibition contains works of artists from different regions of the country who have expressed "their love for the ceramic arts and love to the city and their homeland.”

The works feature various styles, topics, and languages with the aim of promoting ceramic arts in HCM City and neighbouring provinces, Hùng said.

One of the seven artists, Nguyễn Thị Dũng from Bình Dương Province, said the beauty of nature “is her unlimited source of inspiration.”

The 38-year-old artist has 20 sculptures depicting sprouts, flowers, and the theme of spring that have been created since 2017.

Dũng said it took her six months to make a work, which carry her feelings about life in different periods.

In the series Những Đóa Hoa Nẩy Mầm (Blossoming Flowers) featuring chrysanthemums and peonies, Dũng has made thousands of petals and then assembled them into a flower. She later dries them naturally for 2-3 months before glazing them. 

Dũng, a graduate of Đồng Nai Decorative Arts College, has joined several group exhibitions with artists from South Korea and France, and sculpture camps hosted by the HCM City Fine Arts Association.   

For Nguyễn Quang Hoàng, his view of life is the inspiration for his sculptures. His works depict busy urban life as well as the inner life of people.

Hoàng used traditional techniques in making Biên Hòa ceramics.

Hoàng, a lecturer at the Đồng Nai Decorative Arts College, said: “I’m strict with my works. I focus on the balance of yin and yang, earth and fire, and enamel colours to create visual effects for my works.”  

The exhibition highlights sculptures Nguyễn Mậu Tân Thư, Ngô Trọng Văn, Hoàng Ngọc Hiến, Nguyễn Văn Trung, and Đoàn Xuân Hùng featuring people’s life as well as their spiritual life.

All artists have held successful exhibitions in Việt Nam this year. The exhibition will run until January 15. The museum is at 97A Phó Đức Chính Street in District 1. — VNS