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| Pham Van Ve, the carver |
From an amateur carver to the sculpture camp
Born in A Prung Village, Thuong Long Commune in a family with the tradition of wood carving, Pham Van Ve grew up with his father’s sounds of carving, artisan Pham Van Biet. The wooden statues made by his father were praised by the people in the village. They are considered artworks that contain the spirit, stories and cultural symbols of the Co Tu people.
"At the age of 12, I often watched my father making statues and wanted to try with lots of curiosity. When I held the chisel in my hand, I realized that I loved the job,” recalled Ve.
Seeing his son’s gift, Biet wholeheartedly instructed him and created favorable conditions for Ve to do it by himself. He began with small wooden pieces, making simple shapes such as animals or daily objects.
"When carving I want to make details to perfection. Sometimes I'm so focused that I forget to eat”. said Ve, recalling his first days when he was trying making statues. Thanks to his father’s instruction and his own creativity, Ve makes statues filled with ethnic identity. His statues are a mix of tradition and his unique individual style.
Looking at Ve attentively working with wooden blocks, people not only see a young man who is preserving his traditional craft but also a bright future for Co Tu wood sculpture made by young people who are passionate and responsible.
In 2023, at the Co Tu traditional ethnic sculpture camp, Ve was among the youngest artisans to participate in making human statues. In 10 days, he completed two works of which the statue of a man holding his spear was very impressive.
Though he did not win any prize at the camp, he thought his greatest success was learning from other artisans and understanding art in more depth. For Ve, each work is a story and a way to connect the culture of the Co Tu people with today's generation and future’s.
The journey to inspire other people
Besides Pham Van Ve, the art of wood carving in Nam Dong is being continued by many other young people. Such names as A very La, Bhling Tan or Pham Van Ve are the vivid evidence that today's young generation is no longer indifferent to their traditional culture. They are trying to learn, practice and preserve the quintessence of their culture,” said Ta Ruong Mao, a former culture official at Thuong Long Commune.
Thanks to the assistance of the local government and artisans, many classes have been opened in Nam Dong to teach traditional art including wood sculpture. According to Le Nhu Suu, Head of Culture Information Department of Nam Dong District, up to now, there have been 15 classes teaching skills such as playing the gong, traditional dancing and carving, attracting nearly 500 students.
"The conservation of culture include not only restoring festivals but also passing down the craft to younger generations. Young people like Ve are not only artisans but also those with responsibility for preserving their ethnic identity,” affirmed Suu.
Besides learning from his father, Pham Van Ve also actively participates in classes and art events to improve his skills. He hopes to make the traditional wood carving closer to the public in the future. Their artworks are not only for display but also decorative objects in modern living space.
"In the past, carving was passed down only in the family or in the clan. Now many classes are being opened. I don't remember how many people I have taught. I just know that many of my students have become masters who continue to pass on the craft in their villages,” said with pride Bhling Tin (aged 71), one of the carving masters of the Co Tu people.
In the midst of modern life, Pham Van Ve and other young people who love their job prove that traditional art is not outdated. It is a bridge connecting the past and the present, helping today's generation understand and appreciate values that form their ethnic identity.