Wondering how a tiny needle and colourful thread could be used to createsuch lively works, American artist Daniel Rueffert came to Vietnam tolearn the art and has completed a 10-day course in embroidery with theXQ Hand Embroidery Co in Nha Trang in the central province of Khanh Hoa.
Bornin 1948, Rueffert was drafted to fight in the American War in Vietnamin 1968, but chose to spend four months in jail rather than serve. Hethen moved to Mexico, where he has lived for 35 years, studying andteaching fine arts and establishing himself as a post-impressionistpainter of Mexican lives and landscapes.
He remained curiousabout Vietnam, however, and visited the country as a tourist in 2009,saying, "I always wondered what I missed."
By chance, he discovered Vietnamese embroidered silk paintings at XQ Hoi An in the central city of Hoi An.
"I'malways careful and meticulous in using colours. I was surprised thatthe embroidery artists didn't use colours but threads to createwonderful paintings," Rueffert said. "I spent two years thinking aboutembroidery and wanted to see my work as embroidery."
He returned to Vietnam earlier this month and, by chance, stopped by XQ Hanoi on Hang Gai Street.
"I never imagined they would teach me," Rueffert said. "I built an embroidery table and frame and got started."
Hevisited XQ's head office in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat tomeet Vo Van Quan, the company's director and founder. However, Quan hasgone to XQ office in Nha Trang City to participate in the Nha Trang SeaFestival.
Rueffert set off to Nha Trang. After an initiation ritual in a Vietnamese ao dai (traditional robe), he was enrolled.
"Rueffertis very studious," said his supervisor Le Thanh Thuy. "He comes to theembroidery frame at 7am and forgets himself in learning until dusk. Hehas been a very adept student despite his old age. It often takes twomonths for a normal student to embroider, but for Rueffert, he could doit after just three days."
Rueffert said Thuy has been patient and helped him every step of the way.
"Atfirst, everything was difficult for me," he said. "I forgot myselfstaying by the embroidery frame, but after three days I only finishedhalf a leaf. I feel my time at the XQ class has gone by so quickly whilemy passion for traditional Vietnamese embroidery is so great that Ihave to use my time and try my best."
Since XQ was founded byQuan and his wife, Hoang Le Xuan, a number of foreigners have come to DaLat to learn embroidery, but most only stayed a few days, Quan said.
"Thisis the first time a foreign artist has studied embroidery with all hisheart. He has travelled half-way around the world to learn the art," hesaid. "I'm sure that Rueffert will be an ambassador for traditionalVietnamese embroidery around the world."
"I feel very indebted toeveryone I met that helped me and there were many," Rueffert said. "Thefounder has been very generous with his time and made me feel at home."
Rueffert's first embroidery depicts young Vietnamese women working in a field.
"It needs time, but I have been very happy working on it," Rueffert said.
He plans to return to Da Lat in December to further advance his dream of painting with tiny coloured threads./.
Bornin 1948, Rueffert was drafted to fight in the American War in Vietnamin 1968, but chose to spend four months in jail rather than serve. Hethen moved to Mexico, where he has lived for 35 years, studying andteaching fine arts and establishing himself as a post-impressionistpainter of Mexican lives and landscapes.
He remained curiousabout Vietnam, however, and visited the country as a tourist in 2009,saying, "I always wondered what I missed."
By chance, he discovered Vietnamese embroidered silk paintings at XQ Hoi An in the central city of Hoi An.
"I'malways careful and meticulous in using colours. I was surprised thatthe embroidery artists didn't use colours but threads to createwonderful paintings," Rueffert said. "I spent two years thinking aboutembroidery and wanted to see my work as embroidery."
He returned to Vietnam earlier this month and, by chance, stopped by XQ Hanoi on Hang Gai Street.
"I never imagined they would teach me," Rueffert said. "I built an embroidery table and frame and got started."
Hevisited XQ's head office in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat tomeet Vo Van Quan, the company's director and founder. However, Quan hasgone to XQ office in Nha Trang City to participate in the Nha Trang SeaFestival.
Rueffert set off to Nha Trang. After an initiation ritual in a Vietnamese ao dai (traditional robe), he was enrolled.
"Rueffertis very studious," said his supervisor Le Thanh Thuy. "He comes to theembroidery frame at 7am and forgets himself in learning until dusk. Hehas been a very adept student despite his old age. It often takes twomonths for a normal student to embroider, but for Rueffert, he could doit after just three days."
Rueffert said Thuy has been patient and helped him every step of the way.
"Atfirst, everything was difficult for me," he said. "I forgot myselfstaying by the embroidery frame, but after three days I only finishedhalf a leaf. I feel my time at the XQ class has gone by so quickly whilemy passion for traditional Vietnamese embroidery is so great that Ihave to use my time and try my best."
Since XQ was founded byQuan and his wife, Hoang Le Xuan, a number of foreigners have come to DaLat to learn embroidery, but most only stayed a few days, Quan said.
"Thisis the first time a foreign artist has studied embroidery with all hisheart. He has travelled half-way around the world to learn the art," hesaid. "I'm sure that Rueffert will be an ambassador for traditionalVietnamese embroidery around the world."
"I feel very indebted toeveryone I met that helped me and there were many," Rueffert said. "Thefounder has been very generous with his time and made me feel at home."
Rueffert's first embroidery depicts young Vietnamese women working in a field.
"It needs time, but I have been very happy working on it," Rueffert said.
He plans to return to Da Lat in December to further advance his dream of painting with tiny coloured threads./.
