Hanoi artist carves a Tet niche with 2022 unique tigers

By Dong Vu January 27, 2022 | 06:36 pm PT

Hanoi’s Nguyen Tan Phat is carving his way to making a record collection of 2022 unique tigers to mark and celebrate the Year of the Tiger.

Phat said he had the idea of creating a collection of tiger statues two years ago, but only started working on the project two months ago.

Phat got the idea of creating a collection of tiger statues and other artifacts two years ago, but only started working on it two months ago.

Wanting to change peoples perception of tigers as a ferocious animal, Phat creates tiger-inspired artworks with a more dearing and lovely image. Each work is not only an object for display but also has a function of use in accordance with its size and shape.

He said many of his tiger-inspired artworks present a more endearing image of the feline to change people's perception of tigers as a ferocious animal. Each work is not only a display piece, but it also serves a functional purpose, based on its size and shape, he added.

Some of the artworks can be used as flowerpots, tea tables, chairs and others.With such friendly functions, the masculine image of a tiger is still bold yet close, familiar to the audiences.

Some of the tigers he has made can serve as flowerpots, tea tables, chairs and other useful items.

The artist used many art elements like realism and abstraction that he learned in art school for his collection.

Phat said he has applied many artistic elements, including realism and abstraction that he learned in art school.

Phat said he used different mediums for his collection, ranging from jackfruit wood, to laterite wood, lacquer and other.All works are designed and crafted by me. Each piece is unique, he said.

He has also incorporated different materials including jackfruit wood, laterite wood and lacquer, Phat said.
"All works are designed and crafted by me. Each piece is unique," he said.

These are materials that are easy to find. I want to show that Vietnam is rich with natural resources, providing many creative opportunities for many artist.

"These are materials that are easy to find. I want to show that Vietnam is rich in natural resources, providing many opportunities for artists like me to express our creativity."

He said the making process is time-consuming since it requires multiple stages, from carving, sanding and lacquering and smoothing out the final details.

He said the process of making the tigers was time-consuming as it had to pass through many stages, from carving, sanding and lacquering and smoothing to putting the finishing touches.

Each piece is made entirely by hand to create its uniqueness. The lines, patterns, colors, sizes and charisma of the tigers depend on the creative idea of the artist. Depending on the size, each work can take anywhere from a few days up to a month to complete.

Each piece is made entirely by hand to make its unique. The lines, patterns, colors, sizes and personality of the tigers depend on what the artist is feeling at that time.
Depending on the size, each work can take anywhere from a few days up to a month to complete, Phat said.

Among the works, the a set of five tiger chairs took the most time for Phat to complete. The set includes five chairs with five colors representing the five elements: earth (yellow), fire (red), wood (green), water (black) and metal (white). Each chair is 1.2 m wide, 1.5 m long, and weighs 60 kg.

Among the works, the set of five tiger chairs took the most time for Phat to complete.
The set includes five chairs with five colors representing the five elements: earth (yellow), fire (red), wood (green), water (black) and metal (white). Each chair is 1.2 m wide, 1.5 m long, and weighs 60 kg.

He has done nearly 1,000 works and is expected to complete the collection of 2,022 tigers on the occasion of April 30, which is Vietnams Reunification Day.

He has created nearly 1,000 tigers so far and expects to complete the collection of 2,022 tigers on the occasion of April 30, the National Reunification Day.
Vietnamese will have a nine-day break for Tet, or Lunar New Year, the country's biggest holiday, starting from Jan. 29.