Hoi An’s craftsmen turn driftwood into amazing wooden sculptures
DNO - After days of storms and heavy rain, logs and driftwood carried downstream by floodwaters washed out to sea before being swept ashore on the An Bang Beach in Hoi An Tay Ward, Da Nang. This is also the time when local people collect and craft them into valuable works of art.
In recent days, Mr. Le Ngoc Thuan, the owner of the “Lang Cui Lu" (Driftwood Village) which is now home to thousands of unique recycled wood carvings, has mobilized local residents to go to the beach to collect driftwood and pile it up in front of his workshop.
From there, each piece of driftwood is reborn through the skilled hands of Kim Bong carpenters and the creative ideas of Mr. Le Ngoc Thuan to become unique works of art. This has been his annual post-storm work for many years.
Mr. Thuan shared that the idea of creating recycled art from driftwood had been on his mind for a long time but couldn’t be realized until the COVID-19 pandemic when social activities slowed and he finally had time to turn his ideas into reality.
The man began collecting small pieces of wood washed ashore to craft into simple items such as tables and chairs, chopstick holders, ashtrays, bowls and plates for food. Gradually, his collection expanded into sophisticated and unique light boxes, vases and animal sculptures.
In March 2023, “Lang Cui Lu” was opened in Dong Na residential group, Hoi An Tay Ward. Since then, it has become an art space serving as both a workshop and a meeting place for those who love the beauty of renewal. The village welcomes many tourists to visit and shop every day.
Mr. Le Ngoc Thuan believes that the value of wooden art does not lie in the material itself, but in the story that each piece tells.
Many products created by artisan Le Ngoc Thuan have been ordered and purchased by tourists for tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of VND.
In addition to creating livelihoods and income for many Kim Bong carpenters, his work contributes to conveying the meaningful message of regenerative art and sustainable development to the community and tourists everywhere.
