In this way Thuan has promoted the local culture world wide and has inspired others to lead a green life.
Up-cycling has become an emerging trend in Vietnam. It not only helps to protect the environment but it also delivers profound messages like the importance of the environment and culture. For many people, the rotting timber drifting down the flooded streams is used a firewood, but for Thuan, a business man in Hoi An city hey-cycles the timber into high quality and eye catching art objects.
Visitors can see through the strokes chiseled meticulously in the buffalo head, and at the same time there are no enhances to the back of the buffalo, the wood is used in it’s natural state.
I want to make a difference to the craftsmen in the traditional craft village who still use hand carving techniques. They try to make the wooded sculptures look realistic. Thuan is a descendant of senior craftsman in the village and along with an understanding of the local culture and heritage, Thuan’s focus is to use abandoned scrap timber with authentic carving techniques to convey cultural stories in his now way.
Often the timber is taken from discarded timber from fishing boats. Thanes objects depict the culture of the 3 regions that stretch along the Thu Bon river. Along the river, up steam the Co Tu people are located, the the bon river then flows through My Son Sanctuary and then lastly into Hoi An city. It’s Thuan’s wish that in the near future there will be three carpentry villages established in the 3 regions along the Thu Bon river, called “Village of Cui Lu’
Le Ngoc thuan has made his name in the Hoi An tourism community as he works with to create a sustainable model in An Bang Village. Thuan first started the idea of up-cycling discarded timber and turning them into art objects. In the beginning Thuan crafted all the furniture for his businesses, after more than 10 years he reached his ambition of crafted locally made objects depicting local cultural scenes. In Hoi An Thuan has established a wood workshop where he trains local craftsmen to create art objects and hopes to inspire customers to buy his objects instead of buying new easily dispensable objects.
Le Ngoc thuan has made his name in the Hoi An tourism community as he works with to create a sustainable model in An Bang Village. Thuan first started the idea of up-cycling discarded timber and turning them into art objects. In the beginning Thuan crafted all the furniture for his businesses, after more than 10 years he reached his ambition of crafted locally made objects depicting local cultural scenes. In Hoi An Thuan has established a wood workshop where he trains local craftsmen to create art objects and hopes to inspire customers to buy his objects instead of buying new easily dispensable objects.
Hoi An is a heritage city, everybody wants to take home a part of the ancient city as a gift for their relatives as a memory. Many tourists love to buy handicrafts made of recycled materials and they prefer souvenirs which contain cultural story.
The emotions expressed through the artists artwork can be seen in the finished products. F the artist is relaxed and happy, the art object too is the same. Most foreign Artis understand handcraft work, they look at the chisel strokes it the art and can recognize the technique and efforts of the craftsman. Therefore the craftsmen treat each art object with care.
Thuan’s art is popular through out many cafes and boutique villas in Hoi An City, thereby contributing to a spreading trend of up cycling discarded materials. Thuans dream is to continue to spread the cultural message through his artwork ini foreign countries. His art work showcases many locals from Hoi An and he is conscious to only depict them in a positive light. Through Thuan’s success other people int he community also benefit from opportunities, focussing on those that need.