Khanh Linh, Thien Thanh, Thanh Hoa and Dieu Thuy (from left to right) with some products using zèng patterns - Photo: BINH MINH
The four female students, Dao Khanh Linh, Nguyen Tran Thien Thanh, Dang Thi Thanh Hoa and Lai Thi Dieu Thuy, use digital technology to bring the zèng weaving culture of the Ta Oi ethnic group to the public, especially young people.
Cultural heritage in the hearts of young people
Zeng weaving is a traditional craft of the Ta Oi ethnic group in the mountainous district of A Luoi (Thua Thien Hue province). However, after careful investigation, the four girls realized that most of the young people in this area are not interested in continuing the traditional work of their people. And the craft of weaving Zeng is at risk of being lost.
"Like many other brocade villages, zèng weaving has spiritual value as it represents the cultural identity of a nation, not just material life. We wish to bring that heritage value closer to young people" - Khanh Linh said.
Dieu Thuy is from Buon Ma Thuot (Dak Lak province). Having lived in a village with the Ede ethnic people, the image of ethnic people in brocade costumes has left a beautiful mark in Thuy's memory. She admits that she has a deep love for brocade weaving, so she hopes that more people will know about this profession that is worth preserving.
Heritage preservation is a big topic, but the group wants to solve this problem by starting with the question of how to bring in youthfulness and modernity because that is the only way to attract young people. The further goal is to raise young people's awareness of traditional crafts.
Luckily, the four girls had studied traditional musical instruments and Vovinam martial arts, so they were somewhat aware of the concept of "cultural identity" as well as nurturing a love for traditional Vietnamese cultural values.
"Starting the project at the beginning of this year, the group studied methods of heritage preservation and knew that digitizing tangible and intangible cultural heritage is among the goals and programs promoted by the Government. This is quite favorable for the group's orientation," said Khanh Linh.
We use technology because it is easy to reach young people, especially Gen Z. At the same time, we also want the project to contribute to the digitization of Vietnam's cultural heritage.
DAO KHANH LINH
When heritage is alive and modern
With the help and connection of Ethnicity (an art project also about preserving, promoting and developing Vietnamese brocade patterns), the group of young people set off on a field trip to A Luoi. There, they observed firsthand the process of weaving zeng by the indigenous people.
When meeting some Gen Zers who know how to weave zèng here, they admitted that they are not as proficient as the previous generation, and are not confident in explaining the meaning of the patterns. Zeng fabric is still used on important occasions such as festivals, New Year, and weddings, but not many people choose to weave zèng as their main occupation. They work in the fields and only weave when they have free time, while young people mainly choose to do other jobs.
After returning from the trip, the team surveyed about 500 people to hear what factors make young people interested in cultural heritage and excited about events on this topic. The results showed that young people choose to access relevant information through social media platforms, preferring interesting content, beautiful images, and short videos.
Those parameters lead the group to the project's strategies: selling products such as silk fans, tote bags applying digitized zèng patterns; workshops on the process of digitizing ethnic patterns; music videos; digital exhibitions - applying light and sound art to express zèng patterns.
This is when Thien Thanh's role as a graphic designer comes into play. She digitized 26 patterns and put them into the exhibition so that viewers can admire the patterns in the most vivid way. For example, taking interactive photos with light simulating zèng patterns, projecting patterns onto the clothes they are wearing. The good news is that after the survey, 90% of the attendees were Gen Z (18 - 27 years old).
"We digitized each stitch at a 1:1 ratio, trying to be as accurate as possible while ensuring a youthful, modern look through the way we express ourselves. The Ethnicity project has supported us a lot in this digitization process," Thanh said.
After the exhibition, the group recreated the entire event as a virtual exhibition on a digital platform, adding digital patterns to the website. They also received invitations to collaborate on a number of projects promoting Vietnamese identity and traditions, and applied for an art event in Singapore in 2025.
The group's goal is to continue to develop and take "Gen Z weaving" further. These Gen Z girls hope to contribute to making culture "live" with the times, attracting the attention of young people so that each young person will contribute to the journey of bringing Vietnamese cultural values and heritage further.
What is weaving?
This is a type of handmade brocade production of the Ta Oi ethnic group in the mountainous district of A Luoi (Thua Thien Hue province). The main feature is the use of beads in addition to thread patterns in the weaving process, creating a unique and exclusive weaving technique, unlike the brocade weaving in any other craft village in our country.
In 2016, the Zeng weaving profession was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
"Weaving zèng is very elaborate. Weavers have to sit continuously for 7-8 hours and require high skills in some stages. Many local people also hope to spread the essence of zèng to more people and to instill a sense of pride in their children so that they can become the next generation to pass on the craft," Thanh Hoa said.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giu-va-luu-truyen-van-hoa-det-zeng-20240906092918654.htm
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