Back to folk inspiration

Spring drawing inspired by children's folk games by Ha Chau. Photo: HC

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Ha Chau - a young artist from Quang Nam with a rather extensive collection of awards. One day after Tet, he presented a spring painting with the image of children playing folk games in the fields.

Art is always a continuation. Successful experiments are always based on national origins, even if only unconsciously. Painting conveys emotions through vision and evokes memories through the suspension between the boundary of reality and fantasy. That is why paintings from folk perception always bring a sense of peace. Because there is the familiarity of memory, there is the surprise from the perception of the creator.

Folk inspiration is not just starting to flourish now. In contemporary Vietnamese painting, many artists directly use images of folk art products to create their works. Experts say that folk inspiration in Vietnamese paintings shows a connection with culture, history and traditional customs. Images, colors, and elements of folk life are exploited from every angle.

We can start with the Dong Ho painting line - the folk style painting line of the artisans of Dong Ho village, with the paintings of "Tet", "Lion Dance", "Cong, Chuc, Phuc" or "Yin and Yang Pig" - the traditional activities of the Northern Vietnamese people. Through Bac Ninh, closer to the capital, people realize the Hang Trong painting line - an indispensable part of Vietnamese folk art.

Hang Trong paintings stand out with illustrations of fairy tales and folk legends, such as the images of Mr. Cong, Mr. Tao, symbolic animals such as dragons and phoenixes, and unique Tet paintings. Hang Trong paintings often use bright, bold colors and stylized shapes.

Collector Si Moc, with his huge collection of worship paintings, ceramics, and antiques, said that the artifacts he has “belong to the viewers and the traditional culture that our ancestors left to this day.” Preserving the “heritage” also means extending the sacred value of the origin.

The painting “Linh Lang transforms into a dragon” vividly recreates the legend of Linh Lang Dai Vuong, by Nam Chi. Photo: DUC ANH

...and continue

Not only in painting, folk inspiration is being "applied" to many different art forms. Coconut paper paintings - a special product of Le Thanh Ha, have chosen for many years to develop by returning to the "origin" - honoring pure Vietnamese indigenous values. By choosing images of Vietnamese folk life and putting them on special paper material, from the images to the patterns of coconut paper paintings, viewers are moved. Products made from coconut paper in all shapes, including paintings, lamps or decorative items, vaguely show the appearance of Vietnamese folk.

This At Ty Tet, connoisseurs are amazed by a collection of snake folk paintings by artist Nam Chi, with the first painting inspired by the folk game "dragon snake up to the clouds". In addition, Nam Chi consulted with artisans of the Hang Trong painting line and thoroughly studied folk art, carvings on village communal houses... Combined with the application of folk painting techniques, Nam Chi gradually brought the spirit of this traditional art into his works and created a buzz in the community of folk painting enthusiasts.

And the creations on the foundation of succession, open up day by day. Art is born from art. Inspired by children's games such as kite flying, clay firecrackers, hopscotch... interspersed with images of the countryside with fields and ditches, the collection "A Dose Of Yoy" by designer Phan Dang Hoang is highly appreciated by the fashion-loving public. Likewise, this year, the To He brand continues to position itself with calendars and ao dai inspired by life and folk culture.

Returning to the conversation with Ha Chau, I imagine his folk-inspired paintings as opening up an artistic “dialogue” between young people and Vietnamese identity. Of course, respecting identity always deepens...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/quay-ve-cam-hung-dan-gian-3150458.html