Hanoi (VNA) – The preservation and promotion of folk paintinꦦg values are facing an ♉array of challenges in terms of materials, sale and successors, said Truong Quoc Binh, a member of the National Cultural Heritage Council.

He called for effective policies and solutions to uphold this type of cultural heritage at a discussion on Vietnam’s folk paintings held in Hanoi on August 18. Researchers at the event provided an insight into the values of folk paintings, along with the formation and development of folk painting genres in Vietnam. They also suggested ways to protect and bring into play the quintessence of the traditional genres. Renowned folk painting genres in Vietnam include Dong Ho in Bac Ninh province, Hang Trong in Hanoi, Kim Hoang in former Ha Tay province, Nam Hoanh in Nghe An province, and Sinh in Hue city. They have experienced heavy impacts from modern life as people nowadays are no longer in the habit of buying folk paintings, leading to the gradual disintegration of the folk painting. Some folk painting villages have even disappeared already. Since the late 20th century, more attention has been paid to the study, preservation and promotion of folk painting values. Many symposiums have been organised while a number of old paintings and woodcut blocks have been collected and introduced at different museums. The preservation of folk painting has also been part of some traditional cultural heritage protection projects. In the fringe of the discussion on August 18, an exhibition on 12 outstanding folk painting genres in Vietnam was opened. It features Dong Ho, Kim Hoang, Hang Trong and Sinh folk paintings, worshipping paintings, and other less-known genres. The production of folk paintings is also demonstrated at the display, which remains open from Tuesday to Sunday at the Hanoi Museum.-VNA