The recent wood sculpture exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts was a stunning display of artistic talent and creativity. Featuring works from renowned Vietnamese wood sculptors, the exhibition showcased an array of beautifully crafted sculptures depicting people, animals, and scenes from everyday life.
Carved from rare and exotic types of wood, each sculpture was a unique work of art. Intricate details and vibrant colors brought the sculptures to life, as if capturing a fleeting moment in time. The sculptors’ mastery of the medium was evident in the natural and effortless poses and expressions of the figures.
A highlight of the exhibition was a series of sculptures depicting the lives of ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands. The sculptures provided insight into the traditions, beliefs, and cultural heritage of the groups. Visitors could appreciate the significance of rituals, symbols, and costumes through the sculptures.
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Scattered across 687 hectares at the Morton Arboretum just outside Chicago are five colossal statues of artist Daniel Popper. Made from glass-reinforced concrete, wood, fiberglass and steel, each sculpture is monumental and emotional.
The nature-inspired sculptures speak to the Arboretum’s mission, which is to connect visitors with trees. Human + Nature is Popper’s biggest exhibition to date.
The female statues, four of which are displayed differently in terms of posture, material and overall aesthetic, stand out against the verdant landscape. “Hallow”, standing at the entrance of the nursery, is a poetic sculpture evoking the life of fern branches.
The “Sentient” surrounds a centrally located bust with a surreal combination of facial features carved into angled wooden blocks.
“UMI” is an image of a mother gently cradling her baby. In fact, the title “UMI” is derived from an Arabic word meaning “mother” or “my mother”. The over 6m tall statue is made from intertwined branches and depicts the moment a woman is contemplating her impending motherhood.
“Heartwood” is a woman’s face that is split into two pieces as leaves fly over her body. People are encouraged to go through the middle, where one side is a human fingerprint and the other is the center of the tree. The heartwood of the tree consists of its oldest annual growth rings.
Each work is built on a grand scale, reaching nearly 8 meters high and weighing tons. The sculptures ” inspire awe as they connect people and trees “.
Daniel Popper, the South African artist behind the Human + Nature statues has created a series of art installations around the globe, with the sculpture being the highest rated at the Nelson Mandela School of Science and Technology in Eastern Cape of South Africa.
“ Every sculpture has a story behind it, but I wanted to leave questions open about each piece, so people could come and bring their own ideas into it,” Popper said. “I want people to come here and question their relationship with nature.”
He describes working at the Morton Incubator as a privilege. “ As an artist, I have always been interested in trees, ” he explains. “ We need to really acknowledge the importance of trees and what they bring to the planet, and we can give them a lot more .”