Horses and water buffaloes are the central motifs of the ceramic creatures collection developed by Bát Tràng Museum Atelier (BTMA) in collaboration with artist Lê Viết Sử. Drawing on two familiar animals deeply rooted in Vietnam’s agricultural life, the collection presents four sculptural works: Corgi Horse, Dachs Horse, Bench Buffalo, and Brick Buffalo.
Rather than pursuing realistic representation, each work focuses on proportion, surface, and silhouette, resulting in forms that are simple, grounded, and quietly monumental.
Geometric Forms and Traditional Motifs
For generations, horses and water buffaloes have occupied an important place in Vietnamese cultural life, from guardian horses found in temples and communal houses to the water buffalo’s enduring association with agriculture and folk traditions. In this collection, Lê Viết Sử distills the defining features of these familiar animals into geometric sculptural forms.
The works emerge from the artist’s memories and years of observation. Their ceramic surfaces draw on a range of visual references, including motifs from Đông Sơn bronze drums, textile patterns of Vietnam’s highland communities, and the distinctive spiral lines found in Vietnamese folk paintings. Rather than reproducing these motifs directly, the artist selects their essential elements and integrates them into the form of each sculpture.
Corgi Horse
This work reconstructs the memory of a lost ceramic horse sculpture—a keepsake once given to Lê Viết Sử by the father of the late People’s Artisan Vũ Đức Thắng. Long after the original sculpture disappeared, its image continued to appear throughout the artist’s paintings. Its form also recalls the guardian horses traditionally placed in communal houses and temples across Northern Vietnam.
The horse motif in the paintings of Lê Viết Sử
Dachs Horse
The rider mounted on horseback recalls familiar figures found in traditional Vietnamese art, while evoking the enduring relationship between people and working animals in everyday rural life.
Bench Buffalo
Its elongated, grounded form reflects the artist’s interpretation of the animal long associated with Vietnamese agriculture. Engraved lines inspired by the textile patterns of Vietnam’s highland communities are combined with a minimalist sculptural language, offering a contemporary reading of a familiar subject.
Brick Buffalo
A compact, block-like form is paired with engraved lines inspired by the spiral motifs of Vietnamese folk paintings. These rhythmic carvings bring movement and vitality to the ceramic surface while contributing to the visual language that connects the collection as a whole.
Craft Objects for Everyday Living
Beyond their sculptural qualities, the works are designed to become part of everyday life. Compact in scale, each piece can serve as a paperweight, toothpick holder, or candle stand. Through these familiar functions, the collection brings handcrafted ceramics naturally into contemporary living spaces, where daily use and artistic expression quietly meet.
