ASEAN ARTS-CERAMIC ARTS: Exhibition pays tribute to talented lacquer artist – By Chị cõng em. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp

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HCM CITY — A collection of 12 Thành Lễ ceramic pieces made in the 1960s is on display at the HCM City Book Pedestrian Street from March 19-25.

The ceramic pieces feature familiar images of Vietnamese culture and people such as the áo dài (Vietnamese traditional dress), chị cõng em (girl giving younger brother a piggyback ride), Trung thu (Mid-Autumn Festival), and Ngày Tết xin chữ (asking for calligraphy from scholars on Lunar New Year).

Collector Huyên Nguyễn is also showing the artwork titled con lân (unicorn) which was displayed in 1965 at an exhibition in Paris.

Production of Thành Lễ pottery, which is one of the best known ceramic makes in southern Việt Nam, began in the late 1950s.

Its founder was Nguyễn Thành Lễ, an artist who graduated from the Thủ Dầu Một Applied Fine Art School in Bình Dương Province.

Thành Lễ pottery, which was influenced by international art forms, was different from others at that time because the pieces were created by talented Vietnamese painters and artisans.

The products, decorated with a variety of techniques, often represented Vietnamese tales and historic battles.

The Thành Lễ brands, thanks to unique forms and subjects, remains popular and admired. Thành Lễ ceramic products had won awards at many exhibitions in Asia and Europe. — VNS