'Breathing soul' into wood

While most young artists find inspiration on blank paper, author Ha Van Dai, a member of the Thai Nguyen Literature and Arts Association, chose a different path - creating from wood carving. From dry, hard blocks of wood, he patiently and quietly tells his own stories, turning them into lively sculptures, full of identity and personality.

Wood sculptures by author Ha Van Dai have their own unique features.

In a small workshop in Bac Kan ward, where many newly collected wooden blocks were stacked, the sound of chisels and hammers echoed regularly. Ha Van Dai stood in front of a large block of wood, his eyes attentively observing each grain, then leaned over, slowly placed the chisels and skillfully removed the excess wood. Just like that, from the initial piece of wood, under Ha Van Dai's skillful hands, gradually appeared the figure of a highland woman, her shoulders slung over a rattan basket, her arms embracing a sleeping child.

The carvings on the wooden surface seem to add traces of time, reminding us of the hard-working but warm life of highland women.

Sharing about the opportunity to come to the art of sculpture in his unique style, author Ha Van Dai said: I was born in 1991, in Thanh Thinh commune. Since childhood, I have been passionate about painting and sculpture. I used to draw many paintings, until 2019, I had the opportunity to travel to many northern provinces, I realized that the culture of ethnic groups is very unique and wanted to express it on wood. My wood sculptures do not have a certain ratio, but follow inspiration. That is why they create the difference.

The special thing in Ha Van Dai's sculpture art is that he pursues the "naive" school - a rustic term but full of creativity.

Not pursuing absolute physical perfection, Dai deliberately retains rough, instinctive, highland features, true to the life of mountain people: honest but strong, simple but profound.

Ha Van Dai’s sculptures are not outside of that spirit. He mainly depicts images of highland people such as Mong women, brothers in a family, highland men and children.

At the 29th Regional Fine Arts Exhibition III (Northwest - Viet Bac) in 2024, the work "High Reef" by Ha Van Dai won the "Young Artist" award. This is a significant recognition for an author who is following a unique artistic direction, imbued with national identity.

Perhaps it is the uniqueness that has made Ha Van Dai's works ordered by coffee shop and homestay owners inside and outside the province to decorate their shops. Ha Van Dai shared more: I will continue to create works that are imbued with the cultural identity of the Thai Nguyen highlands.

Some sculptures by Ha Van Dai at the Exhibition "Sac Cham - The source of Cau River" held in 2025.

In addition to pursuing the theme of highland identity, Ha Van Dai also creates works in an environmentally friendly way. Instead of buying new blocks of wood, many of his works are crafted from tree stumps and discarded wood in the forest or from carpentry workshops.

Seemingly useless, rotten or cracked wooden parts, under the skillful hands of Ha Van Dai, have been “revived” in a new artistic image. He considers it both a challenge and an opportunity. A challenge because the material is not perfect, has many defects; but also an opportunity because the scratches and natural cracks create a unique personality for the work.

Author Ha Van Dai shared that woodworking not only helps save costs but also contributes to spreading the message of green living and respecting the natural environment. Each of his works therefore not only has aesthetic value, but also conveys the awareness of environmental protection - a new beauty in artistic creative thinking.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202509/thoi-hon-cho-go-4a832a3/