One year after introducing “Bai Ca Ket Doan” (Song of Union), which was recognised as Vietnam’s largest coconut-shell-made painting, Vo Quy Quoc has released the longest coconut-shell-made painting in Vietnam, “Anh Hung Dien Bien” (Dien Bien Hero).

Vo Quy Quoc and a part of “Dien Bien Hero” painting.

“All Quang Binh (a central province) people love top-ranking General Giap (Vo Nguyen Giap), I’m also a Quang Binh man,” Quoc explained why he made “Anh Hung Dien Bien”, which features General Vo Nguyen Giap.

With the assistance of 40 craftsmen, Quoc worked for 40 days and nights to make the record painting from more than 9000 coconut shells, 2kg of coconut fibre, 5kg of coconut peduncles and spathe and over 50 litres of glue. In this painting, General Vo Nguyen Giap strikes a solid pose.

Quoc said he spent over one year on this painting, from searching for documents about the Dien Bien Phu battlefield and top-ranking General Vo Nguyen Giap to making the sketch on many pieces of papers of different sizes. Finally, the painting was finalised timely to celebrate General Vo Nguyen Giap’s birthday.

The painting was on display at the HCM City Exhibition House last week. The work was praised by many visitors, including foreigners.

Quoc is known as a pioneer in making coconut-shell-made paintings in Vietnam. He quit the Hue city Art University’s Oil Painting Faculty in his second year. “At that time, I didn’t like oil painting anymore. I decided to follow my passion – coconut-shell paintings,” Quoc said.

When he was a pupil, Quoc liked making toys and jewelry from coconut shells. He then wished to become a painter who makes coconut-shell paintings.

“Vietnamese handicraft items made of coconut shells are quite famous. I want to turn the coconut shell into a material for art so it will be as recognised as lacquer,” he said.

Three years studying at the Dong Nai Decorating Art College’s Multimedia Faculty has helped Quoc pursue his dreams of coconut-shell painting. Quoc is earning his living from designing websites, advertisement and graphics to nurture his dream.

The young artist has recently opened his own company to relealise his dreams of coconut-shell paintings.

Quoc has produced over 1000 coconut-shell paintings and only some of them have been sold, mainly to foreigners. However, Quoc hopes that there will be a time when the buyers of coconut-shell paintings will be Vietnamese.

“Paintings made of coconut shells are products of Vietnam and I hope it gains a foothold in its hometown and in the hearts of Vietnamese people,” Quoc said.

VietNamNet/Phu Nu