Artist Doan Minh Can is known as “the best bird cage in Hue” for creating unique and sophisticated bird cages from bamboo, some of which fetch thousands of dollars.
Nearly 30 years of conquering bamboo villages
Along the road along the Pho Loi River, across Duong No village (Phu Duong commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue), the “click, click” sound of the awl hitting the bamboo tree echoed everywhere.
Inside, a man was straining his eyes chiseling every detail as small as a toothpick. That is artisan Doan Minh Can (57 years old), who is known as “The First Bird Cage of Hue” for his exquisite bird cages.
Born and raised in a village with a tradition of carpentry and carving, from a young age he was passionate about the profession. After finishing high school, he began studying sculpting with artist Le Dang Duan.
For a time, he worked for a fine arts carpentry factory. In 1985, he returned home to open a workshop making civil wood products. Determined to improve his skills, he went to the carving workshop of artist Phan The Hue.
In 1989, when he returned to his factory, he worked and received vocational training. During this time, there were dozens of skilled carpenters, craftsmen, and sculptors under his guidance.
As time went on, wood resources became increasingly scarce, and his sculpting work was also affected. He always wondered about a specific direction for his profession. At this time, looking around the house, he saw bamboo everywhere, so he suddenly thought: “Bamboo!”.
Starting to experiment, he realized that the characteristics of bamboo are very different from wood. Wood can be carved both horizontally and vertically, while bamboo can only go vertically. “The bamboo just needs to be moved by the hand, or with a little force, and it will rip right away,” Mr. Can confided.
Tools made for wood cannot be used on bamboo, so he had to make them himself with hundreds of specialized chisels, clamps, drills, and saws.
Gradually, he discovered many other “personalities” of bamboo and learned how to control the softest and smallest features by hand. He “conquered” bamboo and the first birdcage was born.
Catching village bamboo “transforms” dragons and phoenixes
At its peak in 2009, at the Vietnam Craft Villages Exhibition organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Hue, many people were amazed at a birdcage called “Twelve Flowers of the Immortals” crafted very elaborate.
That birdcage also brought him first prize at the Vietnam Crafts Contest. This cage was unique and was later sold for several thousand dollars.
Taking us to see the newly completed bird cage, Mr. Can shared that each work is unique because it is completely hand-carved and cannot be similar.
On the birdcage, the sophistication of each carving is clearly visible. The cage hanger creates a soft dragon and phoenix shape. The base of the cage is carved with fairies, and at the bottom of the cage is a bas-relief. Even the bird feeding jar is meticulously carved with dragons and phoenixes.
Artist Can does not remember how many bird cages he has made, he only knows that his products are present everywhere both domestically and abroad.
Notably, in the cages he brought to international friends, he integrated the image of the countryside with the desire to promote Vietnamese culture.
Each of Mr. Can’s bird cages costs several tens of millions of dong, and those used for exhibitions cost several hundred million dong. His factory also creates jobs for many workers in the village with a stable income.
He confided that the reason he has taught nearly a hundred students so far without hiding his livelihood is because he hopes that after his generation there will be a handicraft village that will be passed down in the ancient capital of Hue.
Throughout his professional career, he has achieved many different large and small titles and was recognized as an Elite Artisan in 2020.
($1=24,000 VND)
Photo,Video: Internet (Vinlove.net)