The fascinating hair painting by My Tuyen

My Tuyến's hair art is not only a unique artistic experience but also a story about love for her homeland and appreciation for life in Hai Phong.

Creating hair art is different from painting with colors; each strand of hair placed down is a calculated choice of rhythm, light, and emotion.

Passion for art

For over a decade, Hoang Kim Tuyen, known to many by his nickname My Tuyen, has quietly nurtured his passion for painting in an unconventional way. He uses hair as a medium for his artwork.

Originally a barber, Mr. Tuyen possesses a deep passion for art and unwavering perseverance when working with this unique material. In the early days of experimentation, he explored techniques while simultaneously seeking ways to transform hair into a medium for storytelling, shaping, and illuminating.

From carefully placing each strand of hair and adjusting the shades to balancing the overall composition, he transforms meticulous work into rhythmic and emotional masterpieces. This passion allows hair painting to become a subtle, refined visual language that is both intimate and vibrant.

"Hair is inherently difficult to work with. It's thin, light, easily displaced, and unlike traditional painting materials, it can't be erased or edited. Therefore, each strand of hair placed down must be carefully considered, from its direction and color to the overall composition. Creating hair art is different from painting with colors; each strand is a calculated choice in terms of rhythm, light, and emotion," Tuyen shared.

What makes hair art special is not that it's made from hair, but rather how the artist handles the material as a true medium of artistic expression.

Love for his homeland, the people, and the landscapes of Hai Phong is the main source of inspiration in his paintings. Besides portraits of leaders, works depicting architectural landmarks and familiar street corners of Hai Phong are also a highlight.

Landmarks such as the City Theatre, Ben Binh Wharf, the French-French Bank, the Bandstand, and the statue of General Le Chan are "recreated" by Mr. Tuyen using his hair, creating a space of memories that is both familiar and strange.

With her subtle arrangement of hair colors, artist My Tuyen evokes visual melodies, making viewers feel as if they are stepping into a journey through time, reliving the memories of the port city.

Last September, the exhibition "Hair Strands - Artistic Threads" at the City's Cultural, Cinema and Exhibition Center showcased 35 representative works, marking a meeting point for Tuyến's creative journey with the public.

Many viewers initially came out of curiosity about the unusual materials, but standing before each artwork, they began to appreciate the artistic depth and the story of the city and people of Hai Phong.

Ms. Ngo Thuy Ha, a long-time customer of Mr. Tuyen's hair salon, said that at first glance, the paintings of hair with their muted colors seem unusual, but the more you look at them, the more serene and profound they appear. Seeing the streets and corners of her city in the paintings makes her feel much closer, as if each painting preserves a part of life and memories of Hai Phong...

boundless creativity

Each painting is a combination of meticulous technique, love of the craft, and respect for the people and landscapes of Hai Phong city.

Ordinary strands of hair, through the hands of artist My Tuyen, become a resilient, simple yet evocative language. Viewers recognize themselves, familiar street corners, or memories of people in every small detail.

Each painting is a combination of meticulous technique, passion for the craft, and deep respect for the people and landscapes of Hai Phong city. Experts also highly appreciate this approach.

Mr. Vo Quoc Thai, Chairman of the Hai Phong Architects Association and former Standing Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong Union of Literature and Arts, believes that the special thing about hair paintings lies not in the fact that they are made from hair, but in the way the artist handles the material as a true means of creating art.

When viewers can forget the "hair" element and perceive the painting as a tranquil graphic work with a clear composition, hair paintings affirm their independent artistic value. Hair paintings are not only an experiment in materials but also an opening for imagination and creativity in contemporary art. From seemingly ordinary strands of hair, the artist can construct space, form, light, and emotion with a subtlety comparable to traditional painting techniques.

Each hair painting is proof that art is not limited by material but opens up new possibilities in storytelling, form creation, and connecting with the viewer.

Creativity in hair painting is not just about technique, but also about the language of emotion, where the artist conveys memories, love for their homeland, or everyday stories while maintaining a sense of tranquility and unique rhythm.

This opens up a new direction for art, where seemingly humble materials like hair, scraps of paper, or fabric can still become vibrant storytelling tools, challenging and inspiring art lovers to continue experimenting and creating.

Driven by her passion for hair, artist My Tuyen transforms everyday materials into a unique artistic language, conveying her love for her homeland and the people of Hai Phong. Through each hair painting, this story spreads to the community in a simple yet profound, intimate yet emotionally rich way. Hair paintings are not only a creative experience but also a testament to the vitality of art, where the ordinary becomes the miraculous thanks to the imagination and perseverance of the artist.

THU HANG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/ky-thu-tranh-toc-my-tuyen-532451.html