Bringing everyday materials into art

From materials such as colored threads, fabrics... through the hands of artisans and artists, paintings of the homeland appear vividly. Photo: NGUYEN NGUYET

Beauty is not always created from precious materials. Through the talented hands and soul of the artist, many of the simplest materials become works of art, breathing life, reflecting the soul of the Vietnamese people.

Everyday materials

Recently, at the Hai Phong Center for Culture, Exhibition and Cinema, the exhibition “Hair - Artistic Fiber” by artist My Tuyen made viewers surprised and moved. In a space of soft light, the smell of new wood and the murmur of conversation, the paintings made from human hair appeared both strange and touchingly familiar.

As an ordinary barber in Hai Phong, Mr. My Tuyen spent more than ten years collecting each piece to meticulously put together, creating 35 vibrant paintings.

Not only hair paintings, in Xuan Neo embroidery village (Dai Son commune), the art space is also present through traditional embroidery frames. In a small house, sunlight shines through the window bars, artisan Pham Thi Dung (76 years old) and many other workers are still working hard on the canvas frame, their hands moving the needle quickly, each brilliant thread connecting one another like soft lines. On the white canvas, the image of Uncle Ho leisurely by the stream, the ripe rice fields, or the coastal fishing village gradually appears. "We do not only work to earn a living, but also consider each product a work of art, conveying our love for our homeland and the desire to preserve our ancestors' profession," Ms. Dung shared.

The needlework and thread in Xuan Neo not only create material beauty, but also contain the soul of Vietnamese culture: meticulousness, perseverance, patience and national pride. Thanks to that, the traditional embroidery here is not only preserved, but also thrives in the modern trend, attracting many tourists to come and admire...

For generations, simple materials such as wood and soil have been transformed into art. In Bao Ha statue carving village (Vinh Hai commune), the sound of chisels and saws still resound every day, blending with the scent of wood resin and incense smoke to create a sacred space. Jackfruit wood, ironwood... through the hands of artisans become many vivid, soulful statues. Artisan Nguyen Van Tu shared: "When carving, the craftsman must feel the soul of the wood to breathe artistic breath into it. If you do it by hand without putting your heart into it, the wood will still be just wood."

The art of elevating materials

The common point of these works of art made from everyday materials is creativity and profound cultural value. Products made from hair, thread, wood, soil or stone have a special appeal because they contain the hands, minds and hearts of the artisans. Not only are they fine art products, each product is also a witness to Vietnamese folk culture, where each pattern and each carving tells a story.

Currently, many localities in the city have identified developing craft villages associated with cultural tourism , turning the process of artistic creation into an attractive experience for tourists. Tours to Xuan Neo embroidery village and Chu Dau pottery village are increasingly attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

Looking at the hair of artist My Tuyen, the needlework of artisan Xuan Neo or the carving hands of craftsman Bao Ha, viewers realize that art does not lie in the materials, but in the soul of the creator. It is the simplicity and rusticity of the materials that are the foundation for Vietnamese artisans to flourish, creating works that are both familiar and unique.

HUY TUAN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/dua-chat-lieu-doi-thuong-vao-nghe-thuat-525820.html