Contemporary art inspiration from Vietnam's bronze "encyclopedia"

The exhibition 'Echo' displays 81 woodcuts printed on Do paper, a series of woodcuts, dozens of ceramic works, costumes embroidered on velvet and silk with motifs on the nine cauldrons.

Lotus motifs on traditional Ao Dai costumes were introduced at the exhibition “Echo”. (Source: Vietnam+)

From December 8-20, the exhibition “Echo” took place at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam ( Hanoi ). Here, 162 motifs on the Nine Dynastic Urns (9 bronze urns) cast during the reign of King Minh Mang became the inspiration for artistic creation in the exhibition.

The authors are a group of lecturers and students from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, a fashion designer and two Bat Trang ceramic artisans, with the desire to honor and promote the artistic heritage values ​​of our ancestors.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien, head of the "Echo" project, the works on display do not stop at adapting designs from the Nine Dynastic Urns to new materials (wood, ceramics, fabric), but also aim to create, develop, and create a new approach with strong contemporary values.

“We want to market the Nine Dynastic Urns in new ways, to promote a special heritage of Vietnamese history and culture,” said Ms. Trang Thanh Hien.

Wood carvings from motifs on bronze peaks. (Source: Vietnam+)

At the exhibition "Echo", 81 woodcuts printed on Do paper, a series of woodcuts, 21 ceramic works and 10 embroidered costumes on velvet and silk about the motifs on these 9 bronze peaks.

Researchers say that in addition to being a symbol of the Nguyen Dynasty kings, the Nine Dynastic Urns are also considered a "Brief Geography" of Vietnam in the early 19th century.

Ao dai with decorative motifs from one of the nine bronze cauldrons of the Nguyen Dynasty. (Source: Vietnam+)

Over the past 180 years, the 162 motifs on the bronze peaks have never been edited. All of them clearly depict the worldview of the Vietnamese people at that time, through pictorial descriptions of animals and plants, places of mountains, rivers, islands, weapons, means of transportation, etc., providing a panoramic view like an “encyclopedia” of a rich and prosperous country under King Minh Mang.

Thanks to its historical and cultural value, in 2012, the Nine Dynastic Urns were recognized as a National Treasure in the first phase. In May 2024, the reliefs were recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage of the Asia-Pacific region. This is the 10th documentary heritage of Vietnam recognized by this organization.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/trien-lam-am-vong-cam-hung-nghe-thuat-duong-dai-tu-bach-khoa-tan-thu-bang-dong-cua-viet-nam-296772.html