Dong Ho folk painting artisans in the Song Ho village of Thuan Thanhdistrict, the northern province of Bac Ninh have made the Lunar New Year(Tet) festival more colourful with the centuries-old art form they arepursuing.
Dong Ho folk painting uses woodcut printsdepicting the daily activities and religious practices of farmers inthe Red River Delta.
Popular workstitled “Playing the flute”, “Farmer and Water Buffalo”, “Catchingcoconuts”, “Jealousy” and “Mice Wedding” reflect the artists’ and localinhabitants’ aspirations for happy, peaceful and prosperous lives.Modern themes, including revolution and national sea and islandsovereignty have also caught on in recent years.
Traditionally, craftsmen used raw materials from nature, making sheetsof paper from the bark of the “do” (poonah) tree and mixing coloursusing soil, burnt bamboo leaves, and sea shells.
According to Nguyen Nhu Dieu, Chairman of the Song Ho People’s Communewhere Dong Ho painting originated, only three local families hadpreviously maintained the craft, but its popularity revival has incitedstronger engagement of more villagers.
In theworkshop of Nguyen Dang Che, a 20th generation local artisan, sevencraftsmen were rushing to complete their Tet orders.
According to Che, Dong Ho paintings were previously sold on only sixmarket days during Tet, but now, demand for the paintings is highthroughout the year and surges during Tet.
Each day his workshop welcomes dozens of visitors and customers, he said.
The most popular painting this year in his shop, “Honour and Wealth”,signifies hopes of prosperity, happiness and longevity.
He revealed that his family possesses thousands of copies of 200 different paintings to meet Tet demands.
Calendars with Dong Ho paintings on them are also in vogue, said Che,adding that since October of last year he has sold thousands of thecalendars.
Che has also engaged in a 60 billion VND(2.86 million USD) project to preserve and uphold the cultural heritagevalue of this art form, recently approved by the provincial People’sCommittee. The project will run from 2014 to 2016.
The sounds of Dong Ho painting clatter in Song Ho village throughoutthe year now, signalling a strong revival of the traditional craftvillage.
Bac Ninh is compiling a dossier seeking forthe UNESCO’s recognition of the genre as part of the intangiblecultural heritage in need of urgent protection.-VNA
Dong Ho folk painting uses woodcut printsdepicting the daily activities and religious practices of farmers inthe Red River Delta.
Popular workstitled “Playing the flute”, “Farmer and Water Buffalo”, “Catchingcoconuts”, “Jealousy” and “Mice Wedding” reflect the artists’ and localinhabitants’ aspirations for happy, peaceful and prosperous lives.Modern themes, including revolution and national sea and islandsovereignty have also caught on in recent years.
Traditionally, craftsmen used raw materials from nature, making sheetsof paper from the bark of the “do” (poonah) tree and mixing coloursusing soil, burnt bamboo leaves, and sea shells.
According to Nguyen Nhu Dieu, Chairman of the Song Ho People’s Communewhere Dong Ho painting originated, only three local families hadpreviously maintained the craft, but its popularity revival has incitedstronger engagement of more villagers.
In theworkshop of Nguyen Dang Che, a 20th generation local artisan, sevencraftsmen were rushing to complete their Tet orders.
According to Che, Dong Ho paintings were previously sold on only sixmarket days during Tet, but now, demand for the paintings is highthroughout the year and surges during Tet.
Each day his workshop welcomes dozens of visitors and customers, he said.
The most popular painting this year in his shop, “Honour and Wealth”,signifies hopes of prosperity, happiness and longevity.
He revealed that his family possesses thousands of copies of 200 different paintings to meet Tet demands.
Calendars with Dong Ho paintings on them are also in vogue, said Che,adding that since October of last year he has sold thousands of thecalendars.
Che has also engaged in a 60 billion VND(2.86 million USD) project to preserve and uphold the cultural heritagevalue of this art form, recently approved by the provincial People’sCommittee. The project will run from 2014 to 2016.
The sounds of Dong Ho painting clatter in Song Ho village throughoutthe year now, signalling a strong revival of the traditional craftvillage.
Bac Ninh is compiling a dossier seeking forthe UNESCO’s recognition of the genre as part of the intangiblecultural heritage in need of urgent protection.-VNA
