Unique handmade agarwood paintings by a 9X guy from Quang Nam

Not only does Le Ngoc Duc (born 1995, Tam Ky City, Quang Nam) breathe cultural soul into each slice of agarwood, he also opens up a creative and humane entrepreneurial path - where people with disabilities are given the opportunity to develop their talents and live by their passion for art.

Born in the land of agarwood, Tien Phuoc ( Quang Nam ), Le Ngoc Duc has had a special attachment to this precious wood since childhood. After many years of selling popular agarwood products such as feng shui bracelets and incense cones, he has always struggled to find a different direction.

Mr. Le Ngoc Duc with pictures torn and pasted from agarwood

“I want to create a product that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also has cultural depth and conveys history. Only the difference can create a personal brand, gain the trust of customers, and open up a new direction for my work,” Duc shared.

Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh made from agarwood

The turning point came during a visit to an art exhibition abroad, when Duc admired works of art made from agarwood, something that almost no one in Vietnam had done. The idea of ​​a unique agarwood painting line began to grow in him.

“When mentioning Quang Nam, people will think of many typical and valuable products such as Ngoc Linh ginseng, agarwood… Vietnam has talented artisans with a talent for painting, so why isn’t there a line of paintings made from agarwood? Based on those resources and human resources, I want to create valuable works of art from the products I am selling,” Duc confided.

The painting is meticulously and vividly made.

However, from the idea to the completion of the work, Duc experienced many difficulties. The young man himself learned the techniques of cutting, pressing, gluing agarwood, finding the right glue, and testing each first stroke of the painting. He persisted in his direction of making paintings entirely from natural agarwood bark, using glue imported from Germany to preserve the characteristic aroma without affecting the durability of the painting.

Sliced ​​agarwood is the main ingredient for the creations of the "Duc Hoc Tram" workshop.

Duc shared that after purchasing, agarwood will be processed and cut into thin pieces, with different shades of light and dark. Then, the craftsman will use a pencil to sketch the image he wants to create on paper, then tear and paste small pieces of agarwood of different sizes and colors to create a complete, vivid picture.

Sophisticated lines in the painting "Manh Long" at Mr. Duc's workshop

In 2023, the first agarwood paintings were born. From unique materials, the dark brown agarwood streaks gradually appeared as portraits of leaders, historical battles or peaceful countryside scenes... Behind each painting, there is a story - a love of culture, a desire to spread national pride of a young person. Nearly a year later, he established the "Duc Hoc Tram" painting workshop and began receiving orders from customers near and far.

Despite the difficult start, the "Duc Hoc Tram" painting studio has so far produced nearly 100 works, mainly sold through the TikTok platform. Paintings with themes of life and landscapes completed in a short time cost from 3 to 10 million VND/painting; paintings with high meticulousness, complexity and larger size cost more, from 10 to 20 million VND/painting.

Each agarwood painting costs from 3 to 20 million VND each depending on the sophistication and size.

Anh Duc guides how to make paintings from agarwood

Duc is particularly passionate about painting leaders and historical figures associated with Vietnamese culture. Portraits of leaders such as President Ho Chi Minh, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, General Vo Nguyen Giap... usually take from 10 days to half a month to complete.

Mr. Chau Tung Duong is making paintings at the workshop "Duc Hoc Tram"

Duc believes: “The artistic value of agarwood paintings lies not only in the skillful cutting and pasting of wood grains but also in the story, meaning and message it conveys. Every glance and lip line in the painting is meticulously crafted with a sense of responsibility associated with the beauty of national culture.”

To have a complete, unique work, the maker must be meticulous in every small detail.

A valuable point of the “Duc Hoc Tram” painting studio is its focus on the disadvantaged in society. Mr. Le Ngoc Duc pays special attention to creating job opportunities for disabled people who have a talent for painting and a passion for art.

A typical case is that of Chau Tung Duong (Tam Dan commune, Phu Ninh district) - who has accompanied Duc since the early days of establishing the workshop. Duong was born with a disability in his arms and legs, and he came to this profession by chance when searching for a job online.

“He is very talented and hard-working. I think that people with disabilities, if given the opportunity to express themselves, will always try many times harder than normal people. Therefore, I want to create an environment for them to work, learn and develop long-term,” Duc shared.

Since then, the “Duc Hoc Tram” painting studio has not only been a place for artistic creation, but also a humane space – where disabled hands are supported, where disadvantaged people can be economically independent with their own talent and passion.

In the future, Duc hopes that each person working at the workshop can create and sell art paintings from agarwood – gradually becoming an independent craftsman. Through that, agarwood paintings will not only stop at aesthetic value, but also carry the breath of life, of determination and aspiration to rise up.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/doc-dao-tranh-tram-huong-thu-cong-cua-chang-trai-9x-xu-quang-1748847771508.htm