Sculptor Ker Tik from the Co Tu ethnic community which has a populationof 62,000 and live mainly in the Truong Son range in central Vietnamand in certain neighborhoods of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, has workedto make his community's culture shine beyond its locality.
Thanks to Ker Tik, the world outside are learning more about hiscommunity and their culture; t he community worships the Giang (God)and every year, they observe dozens of rituals to pray for good luck,good health and bumper crops. Ker Tik's traditional creations arenow on display in a house in his native village in Quang Nam.
Born to a poor family in K'Non, a small village in Axan Commune, KerTik has dedicated his life to art. Using a knife and brush, he carveslively works in stone and wood that capture the simple, rural lifestyleof the Co Tu.
"I love depicting the daily lifeof Co Tu in my works," said the 67-year-old artist. He said Co Tusculpture was simple in design but very expressive, helping thecommunity share their passions and thoughts.
Some of his more outstanding works are displayed in local communalhouses, or guol, around the region. The artist also has had his workdisplayed in Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, capturing the attention of manyart lovers and folklore and cultural researchers
"Ker Tik has captured the hearts of art lovers with his works basedon Co Tu traditions," said Vu Hao, a culture researcher from Ho Chi MinhCity who specialises in ethnic minority sculpture. "I can see and feeltheir culture and lifestyle" through his works.
Built in the shape of a conical hat or tortoise shell, a guol is thelargest and tallest house in the community. Made if wood, it typicallystands in the middle of the village. The house is used to receivespecial guests, hold meetings, rituals and cultural performances.
Guol houses play an important role in the lives of the Co Tu peopleand are considered sacred places and the soul of the village. Elderlyvillagers spend most of their autumn years at the guol conversing withand educating younger generation. For the Co Tu, a guol is also an artmuseum that stores works by the area's most illustrious artist.
Many foreign and local visitors have seen and admired his work in theguol. During a trip to Quang Nam in 2009, Barbara Cohen, an Americanwriter and cultural researcher, visited Ker Tik's village and wassurprised by the depth of emotion and skill displayed by the artist. Shesaid that his sculptures helped her learn more about the Co Tu andtheir unique art.
The Co Tu people used to liveclose to the nature, clearing trees for cultivation and hunting. Theybelieve in ancient gods and offer them buffaloes in worshiping rituals.During communal activities, the Co Tu people speak or sing Ly, adistinctive improvisational art genre, which has been passed fromgeneration to generation.-VNA
Thanks to Ker Tik, the world outside are learning more about hiscommunity and their culture; t he community worships the Giang (God)and every year, they observe dozens of rituals to pray for good luck,good health and bumper crops. Ker Tik's traditional creations arenow on display in a house in his native village in Quang Nam.
Born to a poor family in K'Non, a small village in Axan Commune, KerTik has dedicated his life to art. Using a knife and brush, he carveslively works in stone and wood that capture the simple, rural lifestyleof the Co Tu.
"I love depicting the daily lifeof Co Tu in my works," said the 67-year-old artist. He said Co Tusculpture was simple in design but very expressive, helping thecommunity share their passions and thoughts.
Some of his more outstanding works are displayed in local communalhouses, or guol, around the region. The artist also has had his workdisplayed in Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, capturing the attention of manyart lovers and folklore and cultural researchers
"Ker Tik has captured the hearts of art lovers with his works basedon Co Tu traditions," said Vu Hao, a culture researcher from Ho Chi MinhCity who specialises in ethnic minority sculpture. "I can see and feeltheir culture and lifestyle" through his works.
Built in the shape of a conical hat or tortoise shell, a guol is thelargest and tallest house in the community. Made if wood, it typicallystands in the middle of the village. The house is used to receivespecial guests, hold meetings, rituals and cultural performances.
Guol houses play an important role in the lives of the Co Tu peopleand are considered sacred places and the soul of the village. Elderlyvillagers spend most of their autumn years at the guol conversing withand educating younger generation. For the Co Tu, a guol is also an artmuseum that stores works by the area's most illustrious artist.
Many foreign and local visitors have seen and admired his work in theguol. During a trip to Quang Nam in 2009, Barbara Cohen, an Americanwriter and cultural researcher, visited Ker Tik's village and wassurprised by the depth of emotion and skill displayed by the artist. Shesaid that his sculptures helped her learn more about the Co Tu andtheir unique art.
The Co Tu people used to liveclose to the nature, clearing trees for cultivation and hunting. Theybelieve in ancient gods and offer them buffaloes in worshiping rituals.During communal activities, the Co Tu people speak or sing Ly, adistinctive improvisational art genre, which has been passed fromgeneration to generation.-VNA
