[Photo] Shining "Quintessence of Kinh Bac Heritage" in France

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Trinh Huu Hung, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province emphasized: Bac Ninh province is an ancient land, possessing a long-standing historical and cultural tradition, preserving unique cultural heritage treasures, representing the cultural identity of Vietnam, including Bac Ninh folk songs and Dong Ho folk painting making.

The opening of the art program was the soulful folk songs of Bac Ninh, which are considered a unique and typical art form among the folk performing forms of Vietnam and the world .

Performances such as “Inviting water and betel”, “Happy four seasons”, and the dialogue performances of “Young areca nut” and “Good tea” vividly recreated the traditional Quan Ho singing techniques of resounding, rumbling, and bouncy.

In addition, the work "Se chi thong kim" performed through the unique sound of the monochord by artist Kim Cuong brought the audience a new color.

The highlight of the “Vietnamese Cultural Night - The Quintessence of Kinh Bac Heritage”, held at the Vietnam Cultural Center in Paris, was the honoring and extensive introduction of the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings. Dong Ho painting is a traditional craft, with colorful paintings created by wood carving and using entirely “natural materials”. The meticulousness and sophistication in each stage, from preparing the printing board, mixing colors to printing and finishing the paintings, have created works of great artistic and cultural value.

The content of Dong Ho paintings is extremely rich with many different genres such as worship paintings, congratulatory paintings, story paintings, proverbial paintings and landscape paintings. Each painting is both a work of art and a story, a lesson, a wish for a prosperous and happy life. Some familiar images such as “Mother hen leading her chicks”, “Pig flock”, “Mouse wedding”, “Toad teacher”… have become cultural symbols.

The craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings is facing the risk of being lost. Realizing the importance of preserving and promoting the value of this unique folk art form, the Vietnamese Government has decided to propose to UNESCO to include the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

To help the audience have a more intuitive and in-depth look at the process of making Dong Ho paintings, a special video was shown so that the audience can better understand and feel the sophistication and artistic value hidden in each carving and color of Dong Ho paintings.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang affirmed: Kinh Bac, or Bac Ninh today, is a land with a long-standing cultural history, the birthplace of invaluable heritages, contributing to enriching the national cultural treasure. The Ambassador also emphasized the key role of culture in connecting countries and peoples, enhancing mutual understanding, building trust and creating a solid foundation for cooperation in many fields.

The program "Vietnamese Cultural Night - Quintessence of Kinh Bac Heritage" is an effort from Vietnam in implementing its commitment to UNESCO on the issue of preserving intangible cultural heritage.

The combination of music and performance in the show "The Girl from the Upper Mountains" carries deep cultural and spiritual values.

Closing the program is the Quan Ho song "Chuong vang gac cua tam quan" (Golden bell guarding the three-door gate), performed by artists of Bac Ninh Quan Ho Folk Song Theater.

“Vietnamese Cultural Night - Quintessence of Kinh Bac Heritage” at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France was a great success, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

The exhibition space displays Ho village clay figurines, a traditional folk toy originating from Dong Khe village (Ho village), Song Ho commune, Thuan Thanh district (Bac Ninh province), especially associated with the childhood memories of many generations and the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival tray.

The event contributes to opening up opportunities for deeper cultural cooperation between Vietnam and France in the coming time, especially in the effort to make Dong Ho paintings an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Protection by UNESCO.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/anh-rang-ngoi-tinh-hoa-di-san-kinh-bac-tren-dat-phap-post870814.html