Make a mini lion dance costume from simple materials.

With his skillful hands, Mr. Le Hong, residing in Chau Doc ward, breathes life into inanimate materials, transforming them into exquisite miniature lion dance costumes in a variety of designs.

Inspired by international tours.

Having the opportunity to visit the family workshop and witness the entire process of making miniature lion dance costumes, one can truly appreciate the meticulousness, dedication, and passion put into this special craft. A variety of materials such as paper, plastic tubes, velour wire, and soft feathers are "transformed" by Mr. Le Hong into vibrant, colorful miniature lion dance costumes.

Through the skillful hands of Mr. Le Hong and his team of craftsmen, they have created incredibly unique miniature lion dance costumes. Photo: DUC TOAN

Mr. Hong said that he is currently the head of the lion dance troupe at Bay Ba Temple. His job gives him many opportunities to travel and perform in various artistic exchanges throughout the country, as well as participate in many international competitions. During his trips to countries like Singapore and Malaysia, he was particularly drawn to the "tiny" lion costumes sold there. These souvenirs always attract a lot of attention, but their market price is quite high.

From his observations, Mr. Hong conceived the idea of ​​developing this type of handcrafted product in his hometown at a more affordable price. This would make it easier for those who love lion and dragon dance art in the country to access it. Putting his idea into action, Mr. Hong began researching and experimenting to create miniature versions of the lion dance.

Transitioning from crafting traditional large-sized lion heads to miniature versions is a significant technical challenge for any craftsman. While large lion heads primarily focus on building a sturdy frame, miniature lion heads require meticulous attention to detail and precision.

To create a high-quality finished product, Mr. Hong's family, consisting of eight people, participates in a "production line" with many specialized tasks. Some are responsible for the head, others for the body, some for carefully gluing layers of fabric and adding fur, while others specialize in painting the patterns and decorating details like the jaw, eyes, and nose. After all the parts are completed, they are assembled and connected to form a unified whole.

“The most challenging aspect of making miniature lion dance costumes is ensuring the overall shape is balanced. Additionally, the decoration and feathering process requires meticulous attention to detail. It’s crucial to know how to create vibrant and harmonious color combinations so that when combined with the feathers and other decorative accessories, the finished product still fully captures the majestic aura of the lion,” Mr. Hong shared.

Potential of the handicraft industry

To ensure user safety, especially for children, Mr. Hong only uses natural rabbit fur. This meticulous choice not only helps the product achieve a soft and smooth feel, providing a realistic touch, but also prevents the problem of loose fur fibers easily falling into the nose or eyes, causing allergies for users.

Recalling the early days of his business, Mr. Hong said he initially only intended to make these products for fun, to satisfy his passion for crafting. During performances or competitions, he often brought his "creations" along to display and introduce them to the public, receiving enthusiastic reception. Recognizing the superior quality and exquisite craftsmanship of his products, many large businesses and foreign tourists placed large orders. Seeing the positive market response, he decided to change direction and focus on developing this type of miniature lion dance production.

Currently, on average, Mr. Le Hong supplies the market with about 100 products per month, varying in design and size, from 10cm x 10cm to 25cm x 25cm. Prices range from 600,000 to 1.2 million VND per lion. For lions with elaborate designs, custom-made to order, the price is around 2 million VND per product. “Many people buy lions for decoration because they share the belief that the lion is a lucky charm. In the future, I will continue to strive to research and create more unique products to meet the increasingly diverse needs of the market,” Mr. Hong shared.

These unique products are now not just folk toys but also miniature works of art, contributing to the preservation of traditional cultural beauty and opening up a new and promising direction for local handicrafts.

DUC TOAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/lam-lan-mini-tu-vat-lieu-don-gian-a483227.html