Opening of the thematic exhibition “Flowers bloom from the earth

Attending the opening ceremony were distinguished guests: Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Van Thang - Permanent Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Historical Science Association; Dr. Nguyen Quoc Manh - Deputy Director of the Center for Archaeology - Southern Institute of Social Sciences; Mr. Le Thanh Nghia - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Antiquities Association; and representatives of museums in the city, the Museum of Cultural History - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Ho Chi Minh City National University, Ho Chi Minh City College of Culture and Arts, private collectors, researchers, media units, newspapers...

Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History delivered the opening speech

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan - Director of the Museum said that this exhibition is a tribute to ceramic artisans who have constantly created to preserve and develop a traditional art, and to collectors who have preserved and consigned their dedicated artifacts/collections for the Museum to preserve and introduce to the public. At the same time, it is also an opportunity for each of us to better understand the value of ceramic art in the past and its future development in modern life.
The special topic introduces to the public more than 150 ceramic artifacts decorated with four-season flowers in the culture of Vietnam, China and Japan. Most of them are Vietnamese ceramic artifacts dating from the 11th century to the early 20th century: Ly Dynasty celadon ceramic, Tran Dynasty brown-flower ceramic, Le Dynasty Chu Dau ceramic, Vietnamese ceramic ordered from China under the Nguyen Dynasty... All are arranged according to the four seasons with symbolic flowers:
- Spring flowers on ceramics: The images of three types of flowers, apricot blossoms, peach blossoms and peonies, are always used to convey the brilliant scenery of spring. These flowers on ceramics are all shown blooming, full of life and are also decorated with animals such as birds, butterflies, bees... fluttering around.
- Summer flowers on ceramics: Representing summer are lotus and orchids, in which lotus is shown in a more rich and diverse way: Sometimes it depicts a blooming lotus, sometimes a lotus cluster or sometimes just simple stylized lotus images. Besides, orchids are also used to decorate some artifacts, especially Chu Dau ceramics.
- Autumn flowers on ceramics: The only flower associated with autumn is chrysanthemum. Therefore, on ceramic products, chrysanthemums are exploited to the fullest with a variety of crafting techniques and artistic styles: There are bowls carved with radial lines to create chrysanthemum petal patterns both inside and outside; Or some vases and teapots with surfaces painted with chrysanthemum vine patterns, creating a feeling of both gentleness, elegance and balance, naturalness and closeness.
- Winter flowers on ceramics: Associated with winter are two special plants, pine and bamboo. On ceramics, the images of these two plants can appear alone or in combination. If alone, each type of plant will be expressed by the artist in different styles. In combination, pine and bamboo will be combined with apricot blossoms to create the theme "Tuế Hàn Tam Hữu" (Three Friends in Winter).

Delegates cut the ribbon to open the seminar

The theme "Flowers Blooming from the Earth - Flowers in Oriental Ceramic Art" will take place from December 25, 2024 to March 31, 2025 at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History (No. 02 Nguyen Binh Khiem, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City).
Some images of the exhibition: