Exhibition of ancient mid-autumn lanterns in a century-old communal house in Ho Chi Minh City

(NLDO) - The traditional lantern exhibition with the theme "Heavenly Horses Picking Up Fire" unexpectedly became an interesting place helping many young students and lecturers find inspiration.

Speaking to a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper on September 12th, Ms. Nguyen Minh Nguyet, a representative of the organizing committee, said that since opening the exhibition showcasing the reconstruction of ancient lanterns at Son Tra Temple (Tan Dinh ward, Ho Chi Minh City), the group has received many challenging questions from young people, including students, lecturers, and those passionate about art and appreciating the traditional beauty of Vietnam.

An exhibition of traditional Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns is being recreated inside a century-old communal house in Ho Chi Minh City.

Tran Phuong Vi (Thu Duc ward, Ho Chi Minh City) poses for a photo with the 20-meter-long Dai Long lantern.

"Although I was challenged, I'm very happy. This shows that young people come to this exhibition not just to find a place to 'check-in' during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but to appreciate the value of their roots. I'm very happy and willing to answer your questions, which is also what the group hopes for when organizing a traditional lantern exhibition like this," Ms. Nguyet expressed.

According to Ms. Nguyet, the group chose the theme "The Praying Mantis Picks Up Fire," inspired by the image of the praying mantis – an insect associated with childhood, but gradually being forgotten in modern life. Furthermore, since the praying mantis is listed in the Red Book of endangered species, the group wanted to convey a profound message: Traditional cultural values, if not cherished and preserved, will also face the risk of disappearing, just like the "wild horse."

Truong Anh Linh, an English lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), meticulously photographs each detail on a sample of an antique lantern. "Instead of using images from the internet, I prefer to research and take pictures like these myself. These will be valuable resources to make my lectures more lively and visually appealing. Thanks to this, I also gain more interesting experiences to share with my students," shared Ms. Anh Linh.

Ms. Minh Nguyet (wearing a pink ao dai), representing the organizing committee, said that more than 50 lanterns are on display at Son Tra Temple. Many ancient lantern designs that disappeared over 100 years ago have been recreated by young people in the group, vividly and carefully down to every detail.

Each day, the group welcomes approximately 50 visitors. Each tour group is limited to 12-15 people. This ensures visitors have the most intimate experience possible and can easily ask questions about Vietnamese culture and history.

An exhibition of traditional lanterns in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City is attracting a lot of young people's attention.

Tuyết Anh, a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, excitedly shared that she found inspiration for her final project at the exhibition.

"I've traveled to many places, even backpacked all the way to Hanoi , but I still haven't found the inspiration I want. When I came here, I was captivated and very impressed with the Dai Long lantern, which is 20 meters long. The lantern frame is made entirely of bamboo fibers but is bent very gracefully; these techniques require highly skilled artisans," Tuyet Anh commented.

The Great Dragon Lantern, measuring 20 meters in length, was restored over 1.5 months by a team of more than 10 people. The total cost after completion was approximately 80 million VND. Previously, the group had restored a 40-meter-long dragon-shaped lantern.

The "Heavenly Horse Catching Fire" lantern (left) and the "Fisherman Transforming" lantern (right).

A representative of the group said that in recent years, cellophane paper lanterns have gradually revived and have started receiving large orders. Cellophane paper lanterns are priced from a few million to hundreds of millions of dong.

"We have received a lot of orders, but the workshop currently doesn't have enough craftsmen and artisans. We hope that through this exhibition, we can help many young people understand that traditional crafts can still thrive and develop in today's modern times," Ms. Nguyet expressed.

The exhibition, recreating the Mid-Autumn Festival of the past in the heart of the city, is open from 2 PM to 8:30 PM daily and will run until October 12th.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/trien-lam-long-den-trung-thu-xua-trong-ngoi-dinh-tram-tuoi-o-tp-hcm-196250909151130944.htm