Culture - Sports

Dong Ho folk painting expected to be revitalised

More than 20 years ago, artisan Nguyen Dang Che convinced his family members to stop making votive paper and resume their old livelihood making Dong Ho folk paintings.
Phùng Thị Phương Chi
Dong Ho folk painting expected to be revitalised ảnh 1A Dong Ho folk painting (Photo courtesy by the National Cultural Heritage Council)
Bac Ninh, Aug. 2 (VNA) - More than 20 years ago,artisan Nguyen Dang Che convinced his family members to stop making votivepaper and resume their old livelihood making Dong Ho folk paintings.

Che’s decision was considered brave by localpeople as at that time Dong Ho painting had to give room to modern paintings inmore and more Vietnamese homes. Che, 82, now runs an enterprise making Dong Hopaintings and earns a stable profit.

“There are many ways to make Dong Ho paintingbecome popular products in the market,” said Che. “We make notebooks andpostcards out of the Dong Ho painting material. These products are souvenirsfor students on birthday or special occasions.”
Dong Ho folk painting expected to be revitalised ảnh 2Artisan Nguyen Dang Che (central) (Photo: VNA)

Che’s family is one among the two families thatstill maintain the traditional craft while most villagers in Dong Ho village,Thuan Thanh district of the northern province of Bac Ninh, the home of Dong Ho folkpainting now make votive paper.

Dong Ho paintings used to be essentialdecorations in Vietnamese houses during the traditional Lunar New Yearfestival. The paintings are not just decorative, they convey lessons aboutmorality. However, after 500 years of existence, the making of the painting isnow on the brink of oblivion because of low demand.

Dong Ho folk painting expected to be revitalised ảnh 3A step of making Dong Ho painting (Photo: VNA)

In an effort to save Dong Ho painting from oblivion, Bac Ninh province is seeking UNESCO recognition of the genre as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.

The proposal of thePeople’s Committee of Bac Ninh province to compile the dossier to gain UNESCOrecognition as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguardinghas been ratified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The provincial Departmentof Culture, Sports and Tourism has been tasked to collaborate with relatedorganisations to finish the dossier before it is submitted to the provincialPeople’s Committee for approval.
Dong Ho folk painting expected to be revitalised ảnh 4A step of making Dong Ho painting (Photo: VNA)

According to Nguyen Thu Hien, deputy head of the Institute of Cultural Studies, withconcrete strategies and action plans, Bac Ninh province can encourage morepeople to make Dong Ho paintings and help them sell their products.

The effort to secure UNESCOrecognition is expected to have a significant impact on the preservation andpromotion of Vietnamese traditional values as well as on improving communities’awareness about the protection of such values.

“Over the past 20 years, making Dong Ho paintingis my family’s key livelihood. But for us, Dong Ho painting means much morethan a livelihood. It holds other greater values,” said  Nguyen Huu Qua, another local artisan whodedicated to the craft.
Dong Ho folk painting expected to be revitalised ảnh 5Artisan Nguyen Huu Qua (Photo: VNA)

Dong Ho’s dossier is expected to be submitted toUNESCO by 2020.  Following the success ofpreserving Xoan folk singing, there is hope that Dong Ho painting will berevitalised./.
Phùng Thị Phương Chi
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