Take a stand: Malaysian sculptor Abudullah puts the finishing touches to his Mimosa.

The first installment of the city's collection of public sculptures came out of a month-long sculpture symposium attended by artists from all over the world.

The event was held in the lead-up to Festival Hue 2002, which ended last week.

"By the year 2010, Hue will have a sculpture park housing works by artists from all over the world," says Nguyen Van Me, chairman of the Thua Thien Province People's Committee.

"The park will continue to grow as long as the biannual Hue festival is held."

Local authorities first cleared the way for the plan one month before the sculpture symposium, when they allocated 6ha of land in the famous Ngu Binh Mountain range.

"Most of the participating sculptors found Hue to be an ideal environment for a sculpture symposium," says Dutchman Gerald Howellek, who has attended 17 sculpture symposiums around the world.

"This is one of the most diverse gatherings I have joined," he says.

Well-rounded: Sunshine by Vietnamese artist Le Thi Hien.

Coming from Mexico, the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Australia, China, Japan and most ASEAN countries, the participants spoke diverse languages of sculpture.

One group of the artists were inspired by human states such as relaxation, work, worry and hopefulness.

They included Australia's Michael Bullock with Transformation, Japan's Rquichi Yahaghi and Daily Life, China's Zhan Jihong and Run to Future and Malaysia's Ramlan Abdullah with Time and Direction.

"I was inspired by the idea of a common Asian clock which uses solar energy," says Ramlan Abdullah, referring to his Time and Direction sculpture.

"The central small stone helps you orient yourself and points to the importance of selectively absorbing foreign cultures while maintaining your identity."

Featuring a drum with a five-winged star on the surface, Abdullah's work shows the relationship of traditional Vietnamese culture to modernity and exotic influences.

Using stone and aluminium taken from American bombs left in Vie t Nam, Michael Bullock shared Ramlan's interest in the changes to Vietnamese identity during a period of rapid social and economic transition.

From Laos, Boun Than Sommani dedicated his work to the fraternity between the two countries.

"My work Love and Friendship is proof of my deep affection for Hue and Viet Nam," he says.

Filipino Toym Imao wanted his Mimosa, which is placed right at the centre of the park, to honour feminine beauty.

"It has the shape of a boat with plenty of hands curving around a girl," , he explains.

"The girl represents beauty and the wish to walk firmly into the future. Like a mimosa plant, the hands would cover up the girl when some thing touches her."

Meanwhile, artists from the host country expressed their nostalgia for the past.

"I was impressed with the ancient structure of Hue and the people's lifestyle," says 70-year-old Leu Thi Phttdng.

"Therefore, my work Beloved Hue brings all of those elements together."

Although the curtains have closed on Hue's cultural feast, the artistic atmosphere still lingers on locals and visitors alike.

For the locals, the international sculpture symposium unlocked a treasure chest of arts. -- VNS

Outside the square: Wondering Clouds by Japanese welder Isamu Fuzimoto. — VNS Photos Nguyen Dinh Lac.