In a small room measuring just 10 square meters, filled with zinc, paper, and boxes of various paints, artist Vuong Giai Huan quietly "breathes life" into exquisite miniature lions, vividly recreating childhood memories through each brushstroke.
Pack the entire Mid-Autumn Festival celebration into a corner of the workshop.
In a house in District 11 (formerly) of Ho Chi Minh City, the lively sounds of lion dance drums seem to be present year-round through the skillful hands of artisan Vuong Giai Huan (born in 1985) - the son of a renowned Teochew martial arts master in Cholon. Once a manual laborer, Huan's life took an unexpected turn in 2021 when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
Family events and the responsibilities of caring for young children forced him to temporarily set aside his old job and return to the kitchen and the corner of the house. It was during those quiet days that his childhood passion – from following his father into lion dance troupes – unexpectedly resurfaced strongly.
Seeing the exquisite miniature lion heads on social media at high prices, he wondered why he shouldn't give it a try, given his foundation from decorating large lion costumes. Starting out is never easy, especially when you have to miniaturize a majestic cultural symbol to the size of a palm.
He diligently experimented with readily available materials, transforming wire and scraps of paper into the shapes of the mythical creature. His first creations didn't meet expectations, so he took them apart and started over, persevering until he achieved the desired level of sophistication. Recreating lost lion dance costumes was a particularly challenging task, requiring meticulous research to accurately reproduce them.
Gradually, word spread, and the lion dance costumes bearing Wang Jiaxun's mark attracted attention from the online community, who sought to buy them.
According to Mr. Huan, during peak seasons like the Lantern Festival or the Mid-Autumn Festival, orders increase sharply, forcing him to work at full capacity. “I also accept orders for displays at fairs and exhibitions and supply lion costumes to shops during Tet… Currently, making handmade mini lion costumes at home is my main source of income,” he said.
Bringing traditional crafts to the world stage.
The miniature lion dance costumes created by artisan Vuong Giai Huan have been positively received by the public both domestically and internationally – not only for their small, exquisite appearance, but also because they embody the "soul" and beauty of traditional Vietnamese culture. Beyond being merely commercial products, these tiny lions are playing a crucial role in preserving the image of the ancient lion dance, which is gradually fading away.
Through the hands of passionate young people like Huân, heritage is no longer a distant value in museums or historical sites, but becomes more vibrant, accessible, and enduring in contemporary life.
Recognizing the appeal and cultural value of the product, Mr. Huan didn't stop at simply producing and selling it, but also harbored the ambition to bring this craft closer to the community. Previously, he had collaborated with businesses to organize workshops – hands-on experience events. However, due to the high participation costs, he decided to change direction and build his own model more suitable for Vietnamese people.
Sharing about this turning point, Huân said: “The prices offered by companies are usually quite high compared to the income of Vietnamese people, so now I am building my own workshop model. I want to offer more affordable prices so that anyone who loves lion dance and is passionate about traditional lion and dragon dance culture can participate and experience it.”
Although he understands that self-management means having to handle everything from A to Z – a busier and more stressful job – he still feels excited about being proactive in shaping the development direction, organizational style, and expressing his creative personality, providing a more intimate experience for participants.
For a fee ranging from 200,000 VND for Vietnamese customers and 450,000 VND for international customers, each workshop participant can create and take home two adorable mini lion dance costumes. Often, Mr. Huan even gives away extra miniature lion dance costumes, only about 4cm long, as a surprise gift.
According to him, the main cost lies in the lion costume itself, while the painting and decorating are left to the participants' creative freedom, allowing them to complete the product according to their own preferences. Thanks to their high aesthetic value, these lions can be used flexibly in daily life - from decorating work desks to hanging on apricot blossom trees during Tet (Vietnamese New Year).
To date, artisan Vuong Giai Huan has successfully organized dozens of workshops on making miniature lion dance costumes by hand. Notably, this model has not only attracted domestic visitors but has also become an interesting destination for international tourists.
He shared: “Many guests from Japan, Germany, the US, Taiwan (China)… participated in the workshop, some even brought their whole families along. They were very surprised and delighted, constantly marveling at the exquisite craftsmanship of the miniature lions.”
Despite facing certain language barriers, through his workshops, Mr. Huan not only imparts crafting techniques but also skillfully introduces the beauty of traditional Vietnamese culture. This cultural exchange helps visitors better understand, appreciate, and cherish the value of traditional Vietnamese handicrafts.
In the context of the rapidly developing digital age, many traditional crafts face the risk of disappearing. However, there are still people like artisan Vuong Giai Huan who persevere in preserving and pursuing their craft with all their passion and respect. "If you have a love for traditional culture, try to preserve it and persevere in pursuing it, because it is the memory, the soul of a historical period," Mr. Huan shared.
“Some lion dance costumes take me several days to complete because they are so intricate and detailed. Every step must be done carefully to accurately replicate the design. In return, I'm fortunate to have customers who love them, so almost every product I make sells out. Every profession has its own hardships and joys. I only hope I have enough health and resources to maintain this passion – that would be happiness for me,” Huân shared.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/thoi-hon-di-san-vao-lan-ti-hon-post780561.html
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