Tu is working on a sculpture. With his love of art, the young man, trained to be a construction engineer, has created an original form of art which combines sculpture and light. When he was a student, Tu once worked part-time in setting up and decorating rock gardens. While doing the job, he had to learn how to shed light to create highlights for the product. One day, the shadow of rock landed on the wall, creating the shape of a bear. He found that the shadows of rocks shaped interesting images. So he came up with the idea of creating pictures from the shadow of sculptures. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
With his construction background, Tu uses various materials for the sculptures, from ceramic and cement to driftwood and even scraps. When the light is projected on the sculpture, the shadow on the wall behind it forms the image the creator wants to convey. Tu calls it light sculpture. It took him four months to finish his first work of art, "Mother", a cement sculpture of a bird feeding her young, which turns into an image of a mother holding her baby in her arms when light is projected onto the sculpture. Tu said he had to do the work repeatedly because the shape of the artwork was quite different from the real sculpture forming it. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
When looking at a strangely-shaped wood sculpture, it will be difficult to envision the real 'picture' that the creator wants to paint. Only when light is projected on it can you see the shadow. Tu said he had to do the sculpture work repeatedly to realise the desired final shadow image because it would be quite different from the real sculpture. With his construction background, Tu uses various materials for the sculptures, from ceramic and cement to driftwood and scraps. Tu calls it light sculpture. According to him, to create a sculpture from light, it is crucial to figure out the shape of the work. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
While the art of sculpture focuses on shapes, forms and lines, light sculpture requires more than that. Tu said he has to carefully calculate each line, hole and gap so that the final result meets his intention. He came up with the idea of creating pictures from the shadow of sculptures while working part-time in setting up and decorating rock gardens. While doing the job, he had to learn how to shed light to create highlights for the product. He found that the shadows of rocks shaped interesting images. As a result, Tu has created an original form of art which combines sculpture and light. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
When creating a sculpture from light, Tu said three elements - the body, mind, and wisdom – are required, corresponding to three stages and also three different techniques, namely crafting (preliminary concept and design); finding inspiration as the soul of the work; and analysing to create a harmonious and logical layout between shapes and shadows. Also, according to Tu, it is crucial to figure out the shape of the work. It is also important to accurately calculate the structure and size of the real sculpture to ensure that its shadow will not be deformed and will be exactly the shape he wants to create. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Each light sculpture work of Tu has its own story and meaning. The art form requires artists to have good visual ability and creativity to breathe life into the materials. It would take the artists several months to create a work. His process includes selecting materials, cleaning them up, making a plinth, arranging them, and adjusting the light. Going through these meticulous steps, the seemingly useless materials are transformed into sophisticated artworks that wow many people. Tu's artworks are mostly created from wood and ceramics, materials which require special care from the artist. A moment of neglect might cost a whole block of wood. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Tu's artworks are based on several main themes, such as Buddha's images, mothers' stories, or portraits of well-known personalities and artists. When creating a sculpture from light, Tu said three elements of body, mind, and wisdom are required, corresponding to three stages and also three different techniques, namely crafting (preliminary concept and design); finding inspiration as the soul of the work; and analysing to create a harmonious and logical layout between shapes and shadows. While the art of sculpture focuses on shapes, forms and lines, light sculpture requires more than that. Tu said he has to carefully calculate each line, hole and gap so that the final result meets his intention. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
This is the work named Light of Enlightenment, with the sculpture made from driftwood. While the art of sculpture focuses on shapes, forms and lines, light sculpture requires more than that. Tu said he has to carefully calculate each line, hole and gap so that the final result meets his intention. A moment of neglect might cost a whole block of wood. It is also important to accurately calculate the structure and size of the real sculpture to ensure that its shadow will not be deformed and will be exactly the shape he wants to create. With his construction background, Tu uses various materials for the sculptures, from ceramic and cement to driftwood and scraps. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
This is a portrait of Grand Prince Hung Dao, real name Tran Quoc Tuan, a great military commander under the Tran Dynasty. The general commanded the Vietnamese military forces in defeating two out of three major Mongol invasions in the late 13th century. Tu's artworks are based on several main themes, such as Buddha's images, mothers' stories, or portraits of well-known personalities and artists. When creating a sculpture from light, Tu said the elements of body, mind, and wisdom are required, corresponding to three stages and also three different techniques; crafting (preliminary concept and design); finding inspiration as the soul of the work; analysing to create a harmonious and logical layout between shapes and shadows. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A picture of President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap. Tu's artworks are based on several main themes, such as Buddha's images, mothers' stories, or portraits of well-known personalities and artists. When creating a sculpture from light, Tu said three elements of body, mind, and wisdom are required, corresponding to three stages and also three different techniques, namely crafting (preliminary concept and design); finding inspiration as the soul of the work; and analysing to create a harmonious and logical layout between shapes and shadows. The art form requires artists to have good visual ability and creativity to breathe life into the materials. It would take the artists several months to create a work. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A portrait of the great ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor Archimedes. Tu's artworks are based on several main themes, such as Buddha's images, mothers' stories, or portraits of well-known personalities and artists. While the art of sculpture focuses on shapes, forms and lines, light sculpture requires more than that. Tu said he has to carefully calculate each line, hole and gap so that the final result meets his intention. He first came up with the idea of creating pictures from the shadow of sculptures as a student while doing a part-time job setting up and decorating rock gardens. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
A portrait of the great American inventor Edison. What is special about the work is that some products invented by Edison are used for physical sculpture, such as the incandescent light bulb and the phonograph. When light is projected on the objects, a portrait of Edison will appear on the wall behind them. Tu, now the creative director of Exhibition Center 1102, has created 15 pieces of art from wood and ceramics. Every piece of art created by Tu has a title and a message conveying the meaning of the work. It takes Tu from two to four months to finish a piece, which can sell for between 30 million and 80 million dong (roughly 1,300-3,500 US dollars). (Photo: VietnamPlus)./. VNA
