Bringing everyday life into art.

From materials like colored threads and fabric, through the hands of artisans and artists, paintings of the homeland come to life vividly. Photo: NGUYEN NGUYET

Beauty isn't always created from precious materials. Through the skillful hands and soul of the artist, even the simplest materials are transformed into works of art, imbued with the spirit of life and reflecting the soul of the Vietnamese people.

Everyday materials

Recently, at the Hai Phong Cultural, Exhibition and Cinema Center, the exhibition "Hair Strands - Artistic Threads" by artist My Tuyen surprised and moved viewers. In the soft lighting, with the scent of new wood and the murmur of conversation, the paintings made from human hair appeared both strange and intimately familiar, stirring deep emotions.

As an ordinary barber in Hai Phong, My Tuyen spent more than ten years meticulously collecting and piecing together 35 vibrant paintings.

Beyond just hair embroidery, in Xuan Neo village (Dai Son commune), the artistic space is also present through traditional embroidery frames. In a small house, sunlight streams through the window, artisan Pham Thi Dung (76 years old) still diligently works with many other artisans at the embroidery frame, her hands nimbly moving the needle, each vibrant thread following the next like a soft brushstroke. On the white fabric, images of President Ho Chi Minh serenely by the stream, ripening rice fields, or coastal fishing villages gradually appear. "We don't just do this to make a living, but we also consider each product a work of art, conveying our love for our homeland and our aspiration to preserve the craft of our ancestors," Ms. Dung shared.

The needlework in Xuan Neo not only creates material beauty but also embodies the soul of Vietnamese culture: meticulousness, perseverance, patience, and national pride. Thanks to this, the traditional embroidery craft here is not only preserved but also thrives in modern trends, attracting many tourists who come to admire it...

For generations, humble materials like wood and clay have been transformed into art. In Bao Ha carving village (Vinh Hai commune), the sounds of chiseling and sawing echo daily, blending with the scent of wood resin and incense smoke to create a sacred atmosphere. Pieces of jackfruit wood, ironwood, and other hardwoods are transformed by skilled artisans into vibrant, soulful statues. Artisan Nguyen Van Tu shared: “When carving, the craftsman must feel the soul of the wood to breathe artistic life into it. If you work with your hands without putting your heart into it, the wood will remain just wood.”

The art of elevating materials.

The common thread among these works of art made from everyday materials is their creativity and profound cultural value. Products made from hair, thread, wood, clay, or stone possess a special appeal because they embody the hands, minds, and hearts of the artisans. More than just works of art, each piece is a witness to Vietnamese folk culture, where every pattern and every carving tells a story.

Currently, many localities in the city are focusing on developing traditional craft villages in conjunction with cultural tourism , transforming the artistic creation process into an attractive experience for tourists. Tours to Xuan Neo embroidery village and Chu Dau pottery village are increasingly attracting domestic and international visitors.

From the strands of hair of artist My Tuyen, the needlework of artisan Xuan Neo, or the carving hands of craftsman Bao Ha, viewers realize that art lies not in the materials, but in the soul of the creator. It is the simplicity and unpretentiousness of the materials that allows 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