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Hang Trong folk painting exhibition revives traditional art form

Replicas of famous traditional Hang Trong folk paintings – a genre of traditional Vietnamese woodcuts by Hanoi artisans – are on display at an exhibition taking place right in its birthplace in Hang Trong ward in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.
Hang Trong folk painting exhibition revives traditional art form ảnh 1Nam Huong Temple is the venue hosting the current exhibition of Hang Trong folk paintings. (Photo: dantriviet.vn)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Replicas of famous traditional Hang Trong folkpaintings – a genre of traditional Vietnamese woodcuts by Hanoi artisans – areon display at an exhibition taking place right in its birthplace in Hang Trongward in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Being heldwithin Nam Huong Temple, where local residents conduct ceremonies associatedwith Hang Trong worshipping paintings, the exhibition aims to promote the valueand identity of this genre of folk painting.

According to Chairman of the People's Committee of Hang Trong ward Dang MinhTuan, for a long time, the Hang Trong folk painting genre was left to oblivion.However, in recent years, the ward, together with the Hoan Kiem district andthe city, have conducted several programmes and projects to restore and promotethe value and identity of the painting.

“The currentexhibition showcases 10 paintings created by artisan using the họa kim sa paintingtechnique,” Tuan said.

Researched by NguyenHoang Anh, a young woman who graduated from the Graphic Design Department ofthe University of Industrial Fine Arts in Hanoi, hoa kim sa is a paintingtechnique inspired by the enamel painting, using milky ground quartz sand tocolour the paintings.

According toAnh, this painting technique originates from Europe and Egypt, so when startingto learn about this art, she and her team faced difficulties due to thelanguage barrier.

“After fouryears of researching and experimentation, we basically have perfected theprocess of creating a painting using the họa kim sa technique,” she said.

Completing a painting requires many stages, from sketching to using silkycopper wire to create every single drawn line. Finally, milky ground quartzsand will be used to colour the painting, creating the sparkling effect for theart piece.

One of HangTrong’s most popular paintings, Ngu Ho (The Five Tigers), has been presented inthe exhibition. The artists have spent more than 300 hours to complete the 75cmby 86cm painting, which expresses the majesty, dignity and vividness of thetigers with brilliant colours.

Contemplated thepainting, a visitor said: "It is very beautiful and true to the ancientoriginal version. I am happy to know that more and more young people have showntheir special interest in traditional art and wanted to preserve these uniquecultural values.”

Genuinehandicraft products, Hang Trong paintings have a long history of more than 500years, linked to the rituals of ancestor worship.

The paintingsfirst flourished with the development of Buddhism. Since then, people haverealised that the paintings symbolise happiness and prosperity, and hang themduring Tet (Lunar New Year).

The paintings’subjects are diverse, ranging from history, worship, decoration and socialactivities. Hang Trong paintings have vivid colours of yellow, blue, green,orange and lotus pink./.
VNA
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