Crafting a singular left leg from clay
Commissioned by ĐẸP magazine for a special photo shoot featuring para-athlete Nguyễn Thị Thủy—an extraordinary figure in the “ĐẸP+…” series—Meritorious Artisan Vũ Đức Thắng eagerly took on the challenge. The resulting piece, in synergy with the creative vision of ĐẸP’s team, culminated in a bold and unprecedented visual narrative.
The story of Nguyễn Thị Thủy—who, despite the loss of a leg, has risen to remarkable achievements at the Para Games—deeply moved the artist. As the cover star of ĐẸP, her resilience became a mirror for an ancient Vietnamese folk symbol: the carp leaping the dragon gate. “When the dragon summons the waters, not every fish rises—only the carp can,” he recalled. In folklore, this image represents unwavering perseverance and transcendence. Inspired, Thắng chose the carp motif to anchor this deeply symbolic piece.
To capture the essence of this image, he turned to a signature incised carving technique, integrating motifs of dragons curling through water—both powerful and graceful. “It’s soft and fluid, like a woman’s spirit, yet it carries the strength of something unshakable,” he explained. Even he was surprised by the final result: a piece that felt both intimate and monumental.
While most ceramic pieces—even handmade ones—are often shaped from molds for replication, this ceramic leg is entirely singular. To honor that uniqueness, Thắng hand-threw the form using the traditional coiling technique, then moved through the meticulous stages of drying, waxing, and engraving.
The design took shape over nearly ten days of contemplation before sketching, followed by another ten days of intensive crafting. For Thắng, this wasn’t just an artistic commission—it was a personal tribute. A tribute to creative freedom, to strength forged through adversity, and to the deeply human message ĐẸP hoped to convey.
