Artist wants to preserve poonah paper
Monday, September 24,2018AsemconnectVietnam - An exhibition entitled Chuoi Rung (Wild Banana) featuring nearly 40 artworks by painter Tran Ngoc Hung is opened to public in Hanoi.
Wild Banana showcases a new series of paintings made by Hung over more than 10 years, featuring powder colours on Vietnamese traditional do (poonah) paper. This is the first time the artist has debuted his do paintings.
"I was inspired by wild banana a long time ago when I was a student having field trips to the northern mountainous provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La La," said Hung. "I focus on expressing wild banana flowers which wither for fruit banana."
Hung studied lacquer at the Industrial Fine Arts University and works with both lacquer and poonah. The poonah paintings combine traditional materials of the paper and powered colours in a modern style.
Poonah paper is made from the bark of the poonah tree which can be found in Vietnam’s northern region. The paper has been used widely since the 18th century in Vietnamese folk art such as Dong Ho, Hang Trong and Kim Hoang paintings.
"I want to recover traditional poonah paper and draw in the medium of powder colours which were used by Vietnamese artists from 1990s and before," Hung said. "Nowadays, almost no artist wants to draw with powder colours because it is difficult to mix."
"Thanks to the paper’s unique characteristics -- durable and resilient, it has to go through a series of meticulous and complicated steps which are carried out manually," Hung said.
He buys the paper at the handicraft village of Dong Cao in Bac Ninh province, and he dyes the paper with bright and warm tones before he draws.
The wild banana flower theme is a way for Hung to reveal his findings on visual art language and inner feelings.
"I haven’t had chance to see wild banana flower in Vietnam but through the beautiful paintings by artist Hung I feel the beauty and charming of this flower," said Park-hyejin, the Korean Culture Centre’s director in Hanoi.
"I’m surprised that do paper is similar to Korean hanji paper which makes each painting more attractive. I hope the exhibition is a chance for Korean and Vietnamese people to discover the natural beauty made by a talented artist."
Hung currently works at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. He has had many group exhibitions in Vietnam and abroad including in Italy in 2013 and China in 2012. His first solo was held at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in 2015.
The poonah painting exhibition will run until September 29 at the Korean Culture Centre.
Source:VNS/VNA
Legendary ancestors commemorated in Phu Tho province
2023 Asia Women’s Club Volleyball Championship kicks off in Vinh Phuc
Top short filmmaking contest kicks off
Renowned Vietnamese designer’s show impresses audience in Australia
New stamp collection features Vietnamese cable cars
Aerobic Vietnam gain momentum ahead of SEA Games 32
Hung Kings Temple Festival 2023 kicks off
Vietnam trounce Palestine at AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup qualifications
Phu Tho: Festival honours UNESCO intangible cultural heritages across Vietnam
Saigontourist Group Food and Culture Festival 2023 opens
Vietnam’s top swimmer Huy Hoang to hold Vietnamese flag at SEA Games 32
UNESCO official hails Vietnam’s role in protecting intangible cultural heritages
Karate kata athletes look to defend two SEA Games titles
Vietnamese fencers to compete in Grand Prix ahead of SEA Games
Plan on implementing national strategy on climate change ...
Actively and effectively adapting, reducing vulnerability, loss and damage due to climate change; reduce greenhouse gas emissions ...Scheme on attracting, restructuring and improving quality ...
Urban development plan of Binh Phuoc province in a period ...
Plan on implementing Decision No. 327/QD-TTG dated March ...
Hung Kings Temple Festival 2023 kicks off
The Hung Kings Temple Festival 2023 and the Culture and Tourism Week of Ancestral Land 2023 kicked off in the northern province of Phu Tho ...Vietnam trounce Palestine at AFC U-17 Women's Asian ...
Phu Tho: Festival honours UNESCO intangible cultural ...
Saigontourist Group Food and Culture Festival 2023 opens
Vietnam’s top swimmer Huy Hoang to hold Vietnamese flag at ...