(NB&CL) Tet paintings are an indispensable part of the traditional Tet holiday in the past. Like a smoldering source, along with the increasingly prosperous life of the people, now Tet folk paintings are making a strong comeback in the living space of Vietnamese people.
1. Although still quite young, Dao Dinh Chung has been called an “artisan”. It is only natural because he is the only one who continues the tradition of the once famous Kim Hoang painting line. It has been nearly 10 years since Dao Dinh Chung was chosen by researcher Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa as the “successor” of Kim Hoang paintings. Holding the woodblock in his hand, Chung said that these things have followed him from the first place he made paintings at Kim Hoang communal house, to performance spaces, workshops in many places and now he will probably settle here for a long time. “It is very rare that I go out to participate in events because I am quite busy. Especially from September and October when it is the Tet painting season,” said Chung.
Artist Dao Dinh Chung in his painting studio in Kim Hoang village.
Dao Dinh Chung's story is quite similar to other folk painting artisans. In Dong Ho village, artisan Nguyen Dang Che's family has 4-5 people making paintings all year round without running out of work. Not far from Mr. Che's Dong Ho painting museum, artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh also has to "rely" on another worker, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoa, during the "season" of Tet paintings. In Hanoi, artisan Le Dinh Nghien is even busier because of invitations to participate in year-end events. In Hue, artisan Ky Huu Phuoc's family and many households in Sinh village are also bustling with the atmosphere of making Tet paintings at the end of the year.
According to researcher Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, the market for Tet paintings has been getting better and better in recent years. First, the zodiac paintings emerged, followed by "Vinh hoa" (Valor), "Phu quy" (Wealth), "Cong" (Phu Quy) paintings, Hang Trong fish paintings, Tu Quy (Four Noble) or Tam Da (Three Gods) paintings.
“The trend of playing with traditional Tet paintings is clearly coming back. Personally, every Tet, I also order dozens of paintings from artisans as gifts. The happiest thing is that the artisans are able to make a living from their profession,” Ms. Hoa shared.
2. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien, lecturer at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, Tet paintings are an indispensable part of the traditional Tet atmosphere of the past. Vietnamese people enjoy Tet paintings in a variety of forms, depending on local customs, and the social status and rank of the homeowner. Usually after Ong Cong Ong Tao Day, whether rich or poor, everyone goes to the market to buy Tet paintings to bring home, take down the old paintings and hang up new ones, with the hope of a peaceful and lucky new year.
In the countryside, families often hang small paintings, such as paintings of chickens and pigs, with the wish for a happy and harmonious family. More affluent people can hang paintings from the gate, one side is Mr. Tien Tai, the other side is Mr. Tien Loc. Some families also stick a pair of paintings of guardian gods, generals of heaven, to ward off evil spirits. In the house, in the ancestral worship space, families hang a painting of a tray of five fruits on the altar, with a scroll painting on top and Tet parallel sentences next to it. In the kitchen, they stick a painting of the Kitchen God...
Magic of Color cedar table lamp with folk painting on nano airpurity fabric paper has antibacterial and deodorizing functions.
For urban people, hanging paintings is not simply a way to have a Tet atmosphere, but the paintings are also a decoration for the living space, sometimes the homeowner also shows the family's traditions and customs. Therefore, these families often choose to hang Hang Trong paintings with pictures such as "Carp jumping over the dragon gate", "Vinh quy bai to" with the wish to pass the exams; "Tu binh" paintings with four types of pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo, and apricot trees symbolizing the temperament of a gentleman; "That dong" paintings express the desire to have many children to continue the family line...
“Tet paintings originate from the need to decorate Vietnamese homes, they need something new in the new year. With unique lines and bright colors, Tet paintings are not only a wish for a prosperous new year, a place for Vietnamese people to express their wishes for a prosperous and lucky new year, but also a beautiful traditional custom full of humanity”, Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien assessed.
3. Although it has been maintained for hundreds of years, due to war and many historical changes, Associate Professor Dr. Trang Thanh Hien believes that the traditional hobby of collecting Tet paintings has been broken at times. In modern times, Western culture has flooded in, and then cheap glossy paper prints have made folk paintings even more inferior. However, the flow of traditional culture still smolders, and when life becomes more prosperous, folk paintings begin to return.
“Since the first Tet painting event I did nearly ten years ago, then with the involvement of the press, folk Tet paintings have gradually returned. And in recent years, this genre of painting has truly revived,” Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien said.
Sinh village folk paintings specialize in serving the need for worship paintings on Tet holiday.
The success of Tet folk paintings has encouraged many people to participate in making paintings. Folk artists now cannot just keep the old way of making paintings, but they create or order new paintings from artists. Dao Dinh Chung said that he currently has nearly 50 paintings, of which traditional paintings account for less than 1/4.
In Dong Ho painting village, artisan Nguyen Dang Che’s family has put many large-size paintings and woodblock paintings into commercial production. Folk paintings no longer reach consumers through Tet markets like in the past, but customers often come directly to the production site to visit, experience making paintings and then buy directly. Another important part is that the products are sold through social networking platforms with cross-border markets: the Netherlands, the United States, France, etc.
Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien also believes that Tet paintings are now not limited to traditional folk paintings but are accepted by society from a more open and modern perspective. Resuming the theme of paintings of the 12 zodiac animals on the occasion of Tet by famous Indochina painters nearly a hundred years ago, many painters have opened Tet painting markets selling hundreds of paintings with folk painting influences. Tet paintings open up a new creative theme for painters, modern yet still rich in tradition.
Surprisingly, folk paintings have attracted the special attention of many young people. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huu, founder of the Magic of Color project, said that most of the group members are still students, but they are already familiar "partners" of artisans of Hang Trong paintings, Dong Ho paintings, and Kim Hoang paintings. With the aim of developing ideas and designing folk paintings on applied products such as decorative lamps, books, ceramic vases, etc., Magic of Color brings folk paintings to new materials such as silk, non-woven fabrics, or high-quality paper. Thanks to that, the paintings are more durable and more suitable for modern living spaces.
The "Eight Immortals" painting is often hung during Tet or longevity celebrations, designed by Kelly Nguyen - a member of the Magic of Color project, based on the folk painting "Four Seasons"
Artist Kelly Nguyen and the painting "Mr. To, Mrs. Nguyet" created based on Dong Ho folk paintings.
“Folk paintings are all aimed at holidays and Tet. In the folk subconscious, everyone buys paintings on Tet for the purpose of beautifying the space, for its cultural and spiritual meaning. Every time Tet approaches, our project receives more orders, which can be table paintings, postcards, or paintings designed with modern hanging frames,” said Ms. Huu.
For Vietnamese people, Tet paintings are not simply a material product but have been elevated to a “hobby”, a cultural value, bringing messages and aspirations of life. With their return to Vietnamese homes, Tet paintings have once again affirmed their enduring vitality.
Khanh Ngoc
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tranh-tet-tro-lai-trong-nha-viet-post331496.html
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