N PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES

For the past 5 years, people have rarely seen artist and record holder Le Nguyen Vy (real name Le Duc Vy) going back and forth on the alley on Ngo Quyen Street where his family lives.

At 75 years old, his feet have not stopped and he still wanders the streets looking for materials and inspiration for his photography. He chose to stay in Bao Loc (Lam Dong) to focus on composing and "expanding" photos on his favorite materials. When I called, he said in the sound of the waves: "I am looking for ideas for my photography works. After staying at Phan Thiet beach (Binh Thuan), I will return to Da Lat (Lam Dong)".

Going back in time, in 2007, the Vietnam Book of Records Center established a record for Le Nguyen Vy as the first person to make lithographic photos in Vietnam when he successfully "projected" colors onto stone slabs and created incredibly vivid and clear photos. The seemingly lifeless stone slabs with different colors, sizes, smoothness and roughness... became materials to "develop photos" no different from ordinary paper. If paper can become stained and discolored over time, then with the technique of "projecting" colors onto stone, each photo can last for a century. "For nearly 20 years, no one has complained about my first lithographic photos because of fading colors," he laughed.

Admitting that he "likes to challenge himself", Mr. Vy researched and succeeded in "projecting" photos onto many types of "stone-like" materials such as eggshells, seashells, snail shells... or materials close to life such as coconut shells, bamboo roots... Artisan Le Nguyen Vy continued to conquer fragile materials such as leaves (processed to leave only the leaf veins) which he called leaf photos. Having succeeded with dry leaves, he thought of a way to "project" photos onto fresh leaves. If lithography brought him fame because of his unique printing technology, leaf photos marked the wide application of this unique technology in life.

"The stone is heavier than the leaf. The leaf image with the image printed on the leaf veins, pressed between two glass surfaces, is both light and aesthetic, so it is loved by many people and ordered for easy carrying," Mr. Vy said. In 2013, he launched his first leaf image. In 2017, Da Nang City organized a contest to design and produce tourist souvenirs and gifts for the APEC Summit Week and he won third prize with the work of a red-shanked douc langur printed on the veins of a Bodhi leaf. In November 2018, artisan Le Nguyen Vy made a strong impression when he successfully created a leaf image printed with the family photo of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. The unique leaf image was assembled from many Bodhi leaves taken from Linh Ung Pagoda and became a meaningful gift for the head of state of the land where Buddhism originated.

INCUBATING SOLID EXHIBITION

Being a talented person, loving poetry, photography, painting..., artisan Le Nguyen Vy also "understands a little about optics, chemistry, electromechanics...". Therefore, once he finds the "secret to projecting images" onto stone, no material can be difficult for him. "No matter how flat or concave the material is, I can "project" the image and it will still be clear. In the process, 8 out of 10 parts are manual, only 2 parts are intervened by technology. Regarding the color, I import it from abroad with a commitment to color fastness of 120 years, but I also add color-fixing agents so the product's lifespan will be even longer," he shared.

Looking for a unique direction and success to have commercial works, but with the personality of an artist, Mr. Vy said he is still poor because all the money he has is spent on creative pleasures. He decided to rent a house in Bao Loc to find inspiration for his work because he needed a quiet space and close to the source of black volcanic rock - the best material for lithography. He often goes on backpacking trips, every day he can take his motorbike and drive 400 - 500 km through the provinces and cities to find ideas. Wherever he goes, he records many images of the people and land there.

"I have made many images on any material, but that is just the beginning. Up to now, I have only been an apprentice and have not yet entered the path of art. The beauty in lithography or photogravure is just a form and does not bring the deep meaning of an art form. With the time of creation later, by the end of 2025, I will hold solo exhibitions in Da Nang City and Ho Chi Minh City about "projecting" images onto materials. The theme will be Surroundings and Friends , the content is simply praising life", Mr. Vy said and added: "After the exhibition, if there is still time, I will hold a night of poetry and music composed by me and will write a book about my journey and experiences".

Throughout the conversation, artisan Le Nguyen Vy always kept a smile on his lips. He is still healthy, optimistic, loves life, is not afraid of difficulties, hardships, or being alone, only afraid of not having enough time. The fear of an artisan, an artist with many aspirations to conquer new things… (to be continued)