For the Vietnamese, the motorbike is a familiar means of transportation, but for Jorge Rivera, a Spanish sculptor, it seems to be so unique that he spent two years learning about and then creating marble artworks which are displayed at an exhibition called “Dream”.
The exhibition showcases nine marble sculptures, a video clip recording the sculpturing process and a series of sketches and notes of lifelike exhibits - a petrol tank, a saddle, an exhaust pipe, a mudguard and tires which look like real ones. All of them are placed on wooden shelves which have traditional decorative patterns.
Visiting Jorge Rivera’s exhibition, one finds it simple at first sight, but the more they look at the sculptures the more curious they are about the culture and life of Vietnam – the country with motorbikes as the most popular means of transportation like the double-decker buses in the UK or old cars in Cuba.
For Jorge Rivera in particular and foreigners to Vietnam in general, motorbikes intrigue them because they are not only a means of transportation, an asset, a companion of the Vietnamese but also convey dreams in their lives. Therefore, Jorge Rivera named his exhibition “Dream”.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/28122015161848243-18_resize.JPG)
Jorge Rivera, a Spanish sculptor.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/28122015161846308-3_resize.JPG)
An exhaust pipe sculptured from marble.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/28122015161846588-4_resize.JPG)
A motorbike fuel tank.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/28122015161847119-8_resize.JPG)
A transparent marble motorbike saddle.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/28122015161847665-12_resize.JPG)
Processing phases of motorbike’s parts sculptured from marble.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/2812201516184642-1_resize.JPG)
Patterns of dragons and unicorns dancing sculptured on Jorge Rivera’s works.
![](https://imagevietnam.vnanet.vn/Upload/2015/12/28/28122015161848531-24_resize.JPG)
The “Dream” exhibition attracts a large number of tourists. |
Jorge acknowledged that the Vietnamese have a special link with their motorbike so it serves as a tool for him to discover many interests in their lives.
Gorge Rivera received a PhD degree in sculpture at the University of the Arts London. He is living in both London and Taiwan. He has participated in many exhibitions worldwide and his works are displayed at the Royal University of London, the Takumy Museum in Japan, Stanford University and other private collections.
Story: Bich Van - Photos: Trinh Van Bo