A portion from the exotic 6000+ pig statues and drawings in a collection of renowned Vietnamese historian-turned-politician Duong Trung Quoc is on display at Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hanoi to commemorate the coming Year of the Pig.

The exhibition, named “My Zodiac Sign, the Prosperous Pig,” kicked off on January 23 evening.

As its owner, historian Quoc, who is quite peripatetic, said the collection enjoys a great deal of diversity.

The pigs exhibited come in all shapes and sizes, and hail from every nook and cranny across the globe.

Sightseers and art enthusiasts promise bafflement the moment they lay eyes on the sheer volume of the exhibits.

The collection reportedly comprises, but not limited to, Chilean “Chanchitos” pig figurines, porcelain Indian pig statues, violet pigs from Taipei, and even pig sculptures hailing from Austria’s mythically famous Hallstatt village.

Exquisite additions, from Western civilizations such as Québec, Rome, Germany, Chopin’s Poland, to the world-acclaimed Yixing clay pigs from Wuxing City, China, and the Running Pigs figurines from the Russian Mrs. Beauty Contest held in Kaliningrad, also constitute a special part of the spectacle.

Aside from the physical fascination on show, it is the various tales accompanying each piggy piece that compel the mass under its enchantment.

The exhibition also calls for contributions from potential artists, notably Nguyen Van Toan’s ceramic pig collection, Le Tri Dung’s twelve zodiac signs drawn on utensils, alongside products from some of the most well-known Vietnamese handicraft villages and streets of Bat Trang, Kim Hoan, Dong Ho, Hang Trong, and others.

Prominently, it welcomes the pig drawings of Bui Xuan Phai, a legendary painter in Vietnam.

The exhibition will persist until after Lunar New Year celebration, which lasts for nine days from February 2, marking the first occasion the museum has received both domestic and international visitors during the period.

Sift through the “My Zodiac Sign, the Prosperous Pig” exhibits and see the culmination of cultural arts from all over the world.

Duong Trung Quoc also puts on display piggy figurines of Dr. Dinh Van Hanh. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Cute piglet figurines. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Feeding piggy banks! Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Smiley piggy… Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

A pair of similarly looking pig statues. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Pig figurines on display at the exhibition. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Piggy couples. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Duong Trung Quoc recently claimed the record of having the most pig figurines in Vietnam. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Pig sculptures of sculptor Thai Nhat Minh make a debut at the exhibition. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese pigs hold a close relationship with their rooster neighbors. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Some are sheer bizarre. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Some pigs appear more colorful than their peers. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Many visitors are mildly enthralled by the sheer volume of the pig figurines. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Ferocious swine bare their teeth against sightseers. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

The twelve zodiac signs drawn on utensils of artist Le Tri Dung. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Pig figurines are seen coming from all shapes and sizes. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

This bizarre piggy trio must have come a long way to make it to the exhibition. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

A figurine depicts a child using a laptop on a pig’s back – a blend between tradition and modern vibes. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre

Duong Trung Quoc, 72, is a Vietnamese historian notable for his practical observation methods in culture and arts – which often involve him trekking far and wide – and his downright honest feedback at the lawmaking national assembly as a congressman representing Dong Nai Province, southeastern Vietnam.

As lunar 2019 is the Year of the Pig, whose sign Quoc’s birth year falls under, he cooperates with, and gives consent to, Vietnam Women’s Museum so that the latter may put his vast collection on display.

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