For many generations of Vietnamese people, clay statues were once an indispensable folk toy of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Over the past time, with the appearance of modern and attractive toys, the traditional folk toy has gradually fallen into oblivion. At present, perhaps, Phung Dinh Giap from the northern province of Bac Ninh, is likely the last artisan, who stills crafts the traditional toy when the Mid-Autumn Festival comes.
Artisan Phung Dinh Giap, who has over 60 years of experience, admitted that he is uncertain about the origins of the clay statue-making tradition.
To create a perfect clay statue, it requires many stages, each taking a lot of time, efforts, and the skillfulness of the craftsman. After molding, the statue is dried, covered with a layer of white glue, and then colored, resulting in vibrant products.
The process of making these clay statues is not simple at all, and reflects the artisan’s deep dedication and effort. With his skillful hands, Giap is able to create unique art works.
For Giap, what he is concerned most is how to preserve this traditional toy.
One of his efforts to achieve this is organizing workshops, where he directly instructs young people to make clay statues.
With his passion for preserving the craft, artisan Phung Dinh Giap has dedicated himself to creating clay statues to revive the childhood memories, and uphold the cultural heritage of the Northern Region./.
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