The biannual camp to welcome the 2008 Hue Festival has attracted 25 sculptors from 13 countries, including the UK, India, Austria, Belgium, Germany the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan, Peru, France, the Philippines, Thailand, China, Australia and Vietnam.

 

                                            Opening ceremony

The Abalone Resort & Spa, a quiet and charming place on the edge of Tam Giang and Thuan An beaches looks like a busy construction site with constant background noise coming from the stone cutting, grinders and drills.

                                   Hurry and bustling like construction site

In the bright sunshine, Carole Tuner, an American sculptor, is instructing a stonemason how to restore a statue named “sky and earth”. The statue features a young girl looking into the sky. Ms Tuner explained that this is a Vietnamese girl who is very graceful and full of energy.

                                Carole Turner standing beside her work

Like other sculptors, Miguel Velit from Peru wants his work to connect closely with history, people and the nature of Vietnam so his work features human vitality and beliefs. Meanwhile Sue Pedley from Sydney, Australia is interested in the story of Princess Huyen Tran so she names her work “Princess”

                                                Nearly finish

 

This is the first time the international sculpture camp in Asia has attracted a large number of female sculptors, 14 out of 25, including eight Vietnamese. Sculptor Khue said that sculpture often attracts men as it is a heavy work. “However, we try our best to make our works full of grace and beauty”, Ms Khue said.

               Vietnamese sculptor Dang Thi Khue and her French friend Kurts.

 

Five camps were previously held in Hue city and domestic and foreign sculptors have left hundreds of works in the city, which visitors to Hue can see along the Huong River’s banks.

 

                                       Passionately working

Each sculptor has two assistants who work industriously and passionately. Marble stone is taken from northern Thai Nguyen province to Thuan An beach, 10km from Hue City where the sculptors design their works in a relaxing atmosphere.

 

                                                 Skillful stone cutters

In the next few days, their works of art will be completed and presented as special gifts to the 2008 Hue Festival, slated for June 3-11. They are very unique and impressive and full of friendship and love for Hue.