Quilling of 'Tiny Girl'

"Unfortunately not having a normal, pretty body like other girls, I chose to express my desire for beauty through quilling paintings," Ho Thi Lang (31 years old, residing in Hoa Phuoc commune, old Hoa Vang district; now Hoa Xuan ward, Da Nang city) began the story.

BEAUTIFUL AS "MORNING DEW"

I have had the opportunity to admire many works of quilling art, but it was only when I stood in front of the painting of Tuy Loan Communal House by Ms. Ho Thi Lang that I truly felt the sophistication that the fragile pieces of paper can bring. The painting was done by Ms. Lang in nearly half a month, depicting the image of a communal house that is more than 500 years old vividly in every detail, from the mossy tiled roof, dragon and phoenix patterns to the ancient wooden doors... The unique point of the painting lies in the way she handles the details on the 2 reliefs on the facade and the 4 lines of Chinese characters on the 4 main pillars of the communal house...

"I made the painting at the request of the Hoa Vang District Party Committee (formerly), to give to a guest on a foreign occasion. When I handed over the painting and heard the compliments, there was nothing happier for a professional like me...", Ms. Lang said. She said: "7 years of starting a business with quilling paper art, that is a big work that I put a lot of effort into. Because my health does not allow it, I often do small orders with less work."

Tranh giấy xoắn của 'cô gái tí hon'- Ảnh 1. — The paper-quill painting *of Tuy Loan communal house* is surprisingly realistic.

Having suffered from scoliosis and hunchback since childhood, Ms. Lang could not sit for long. This girl, who is only 1.2 m tall and weighs more than 20 kg, cried many nights because she had to drop out of school in 7th grade. Her dream of becoming a teacher ended since then…

Thinking that she could not become a burden to her parents, in 2015, Lang accidentally learned about quilling so she packed up and went to Hanoi to learn the craft. In 2018, she decided to start a business with quilling and took the brand name "Suong ban mai".

N INSPIRATIONAL PERSON

After several appointments because Ms. Lang was busy attending fairs and teaching crafts, I was finally picked up by her at the quilling "workshop" located right in her house.

Tranh giấy xoắn của 'cô gái tí hon'- Ảnh 2. — Ms. Ho Thi Lang with her unique quilling paper products

Called a workshop, it is just a room of less than 10 square meters, filled with rolls of colorful paper. In the middle of the room is a wooden table and a set of chairs that fit her small figure. Using a machine to twist paper strands as thin as toothpicks, Ms. Lang said: "The tools include scissors, three tweezers, a homemade rolling machine, glue, tape and background paper. Technically, after twisting the paper, you just need to use tweezers to shape it and then stick it on to form a picture and you're done...".

Ms. Lang herself finds the quilling craft not difficult, but it requires the craftsman to be patient and have an aesthetic sense. The beauty of the product lies not only in the original draft but also in the delicate shaping of each strand of paper. Recalling the early days of starting her business, Ms. Lang said there were times when she wanted to give up because her products were not well-known. The Christmas cards she made had to be kept until the following winter before they could be purchased.

Tranh giấy xoắn của 'cô gái tí hon'- Ảnh 3. — The profession of making quilling paper requires the worker to have aesthetic sense and perseverance.

Fortunately, she was encouraged by the commune youth union, supported by friends and relatives, and gradually her cards and paintings were sought after by many people. With themes about nature, the beauty of regions and the content of commemorative cards such as Vietnamese Teachers' Day November 20, Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day..., Lang's cards were enjoyed by many people and introduced to each other to order as gifts. In May 2023, Ms. Lang was awarded a certificate of merit by the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Vang District (old) for her outstanding achievements in the start-up movement, being a typical young person of the locality. Ms. Lang also participated in the "Creative Women's Startup Ideas" contest and won the highest prize. These achievements have contributed to spreading the Suong Ban Mai brand, thereby receiving more love from the community.

Ms. Lang shared: "With prices ranging from 60,000 VND/card and several hundred thousand to several million VND/painting, I have had large orders, earning an income to support myself and my family. What's even more joyful is that with the trust of the center for people with disabilities, I was invited to teach the profession to young people in the same situation. There are already 2 students who can earn a living by quilling paper in Hoi An... I hope that quilling paper art can become a job that both brings joy and helps people with disabilities find meaning in life. Like the sunflower painting that I will make for myself."

Interested readers can call Ms. Lang at phone number: 0968.119.518. ( to be continued )