» Mañjuśrī

Nguyen Duc Phuong’s work is profuse with a knowledge of vernacular traditions, folklore, and Vietnamese mythology combined with candid figurative shapes and a sense of flatness often found in folk drawings. Characteristic of the works he produces, Mañjuśrī is composed of various discarded materials that he collects and repurposes, adorning them with ceramic creations or illustrations.

The work is a combination of religious sculpture and light fixture, two media that frequently appear in Phuong’s practice. The ceramic constitutes a small, yet central, component of the work. As the title suggests, the ceramic figurine represents Mañjuśrī – one of the most illustrious bodhisattvas – here humorously depicted as an endearing and naive-looking miniature. Traditionally, Mañjuśrī often appears riding a blue lion or standing triumphant atop a lion’s skin. This iconography points to the human mind being akin to a wild beast that one can only tame through patience and wisdom.

(Edited from text excerpts provided by San Art)