Introduction the Artisan

"Earth – Fire – Time" Creating unique imprints.

About the Artisan

I graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in 2010.
After years of working in art education, I ventured into pottery through my participation in a JICA technical cooperation project.
This project aimed to introduce the production techniques of Koishiwara ware (Japan) while helping to preserve the traditional handcrafted pottery culture of Phu Lang village in Bac Ninh, Vietnam.
Drawing on my extensive background in fine arts, I approached pottery with a curiosity about clay, glaze, and fire. I studied traditional craftsmanship in Phu Lang village and honed advanced pottery techniques in Toho village (Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan).
Wood-fired pottery offer me a primal connection to nature; each firing is a unique, unrepeatable journey shaped by the interplay of temperature, ash, and glaze on the pieces as they emerge from the kiln.
I create pottery with deep respect for the material, patience, and a commitment to traditional craftsmanship.
DO THI HONG THAM
Artist – Pottery Artisan

My style

My product inherits traditional wood-fired pottery techniques from the Toho pottery village (Japan) through a technology transfer project jointly implemented by the Vietnamese and Japanese governments, with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Wood-Fired Pottery: The Beauty of Nature and Time Wood-firing – the art of fire and ash
Unlike modern electric or gas kilns, traditional wood-fired kilns require the potter to manually control the flames over several consecutive days—often spanning 17 to 18 hours. Wood is fed steadily and continuously into the kiln, generating high temperatures reaching nearly 1,300°C. During the firing process, natural wood ash settles on the pottery surface, melts, and forms a natural glaze—creating a spontaneous effect that cannot be fully controlled. Consequently, every piece becomes a unique work of art, bearing the distinctive imprint of fire, wind, and earth.
Wood-fired pottery lack the glossy sheen or conventional perfection of mass-produced ware. Their surfaces may appear rough or mottled, yet they possess a profound, serene beauty. This embodies the “Wabi-sabi” philosophy—an appreciation for simplicity, naturalness, and impermanence. Scorched ash marks, fine crackle patterns, and the traces left by wind and fire are cherished as integral parts of the story each vessel tells. Creating wood-fired pottery is not merely a technical process but a journey involving body, mind, and spirit. The artisan does not seek total control over the final product; instead, they learn to listen to, understand, and embrace what nature offers. They work in silence, focusing intently on every stroke of carving and every log fed into the kiln, patiently observing the shifting flames. It is a form of moving meditation, where deep concentration and patience are cultivated through each firing cycle. Wood-fired pottery represents more than just a style of pottery; it embodies a way of life—one that values nature, accepts imperfection, and embraces a slower, more profound pace of living. Each piece stands as a testament to the harmony between human and fire, art and nature. In today’s fast-paced world, wood-fired pottery serve as a gentle reminder that true beauty often emerges only through the passage of time—quietly and authentically.