Unique ceramic tigers for New Year celebration 14:16     Unique ceramic tigers for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) have been made by Mr. Nguyen Van Hoang. On an early day of January 2022, we visited Hoang’s workshop in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. “I did not expect to be so busy at the end of the year. The local authorities have ordered six ceramic tigers to display at Thanh Ha Pottery Village,” Hoang told us. He had opportunity to gain experience about ceramics when he was just a kid as this was a tradition in his hometown – Thanh Ha Ward. “I did not notice that I was following my parents’ career back then,” he said. If he were not affected by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, he would not have time to talk with customers, Hoang shared. But in the last two years, he has only made ceramic products on Lunar New Year occasions. On other days, he has worked as a carpenter to earn more money. With his skillful manual dexterity, his ceramic tigers are made in many poses such as standing, mauling, or sitting. Each product has different dimensions. To complete a statue of a tiger, it requires many stages. Hoang cut clay into big pieces, then rolled them into a shape like a pipe. After that, he started to shape them, dry them, put them into a kiln, and paint them. It took him over a month to finish the entire procedure. Drying stage is the longest part as it depends on the weather. The clay must be hard and firm before putting into a kiln. “Wishing for a lucky year” According to Hoang, the most difficult phase is the forming phase, especially when it comes to the face. The tiger’s face represents its artwork. He had to observe a considerable number of pictures to imagine the king of jungle in detail. The six tigers have just been delivered to the Thanh Ha Pottery Village for being displayed around the village to celebrate the Lunar New Year 2022 – The Year of the Tiger. Tourists can sightsee and take pictures of the statues. Mr. Hoang carefully makes his products. Each stage needs to be delicately done. He has to choose a good clay, then carefully knead the clay so that it is dry and firm  To Mr. Hoang, finishing the ceramic tigers will put an end to a terrible year and to a start for a better one. VNN