Eastern culture in embroidery paintings

From simple fabric frames, the people of Xuan Neo village in Dai Son commune (Hai Phong) put into each needle and thread their memories of their hometown and the pride of the East.

The embroidered paintings that convey the national soul have created lasting vitality for the Xuan Neo embroidery village.

Works of sophistication

Xuan Neo village has long been famous for its hand embroidery. Here, through many generations, people have persistently kept the needle and thread to "draw" sophisticated works, preserving the soul of the countryside. This is a field that requires high technique and endless creativity. Each stitch and needle line is not simply for decoration but is a way to convey the craftsman's thoughts and feelings for his homeland and country. The art of Xuan Neo embroidery is different in the sophistication and delicacy in each stage. The craftsman must start from a sketch, meticulously calculating each composition of the painting before placing the needle on the fabric. Then, hundreds, thousands of stitches are layered and interwoven to create depth and graceful artistic color transitions. This year, turning 80, artisan Pham Anh Dung shared that his life is closely tied to each needle and thread. Although he was male, from a young age he was passionate about his family's embroidery profession and volunteered to devote his whole life to preserving the profession.

The unique feature of Xuan Neo embroidery is the color mixing technique. Many artisans can use two to three threads with different shades to create light and shadow effects, giving the painting a soul and depth like an oil painting. Especially with portraits, expressing the eyes, smile or demeanor of the character requires steady skills and master patience.

According to Mrs. Pham Thi Dung (76 years old this year), it takes months, even years, to complete large-sized paintings. The craftsman sits for hours in front of the embroidery frame, meticulously paying attention to every detail, putting his heart into the product. It is this meticulousness that creates the special value of Xuan Neo embroidery paintings, turning the paintings into meaningful cultural gifts.

A painting of Nguyen Trai temple was hand-embroidered over many months with vivid colors exuding solemnity and serenity.

In the past, everyone in Xuan Neo village did embroidery, but in the current market economy , when industrial goods are flooding in, handmade embroidery takes a lot of time and is expensive, making it difficult to compete with mass-produced printed products. However, in the village, there are still elderly artisans who persistently pass on their craft to their children and grandchildren, and open classes to guide young people in the village. Many families with three or four generations are attached to the embroidery frame, preserving the craft as a precious spiritual heritage. At the same time, some artisans also boldly innovate designs, creating more compact products, suitable for souvenirs, helping embroidery paintings get closer to modern tastes.

Keep the soul of the countryside in every work

Xuan Neo embroidery is not only an art product but also a memory of the homeland woven with colored threads. The common themes are images associated with the northern countryside: banyan trees, wells, communal houses, rice fields, rural markets, and scenes of farmers working...

Every needle and thread shows the thoughts and feelings of the embroiderer.

In addition, many artisans also recreate famous landscapes of the country, from the mountains and rivers of Ha Long to the mountains and forests of the Northwest, creating diversity and richness in the works. Coming to Xuan Neo embroidery village, you can see Mao Dien Temple of Literature, the special relics of Con Son - Kiep Bac... In particular, the portrait paintings of President Ho Chi Minh and revolutionary leaders are considered a "measure" of craftsmanship, because each stitch not only aims to recreate the image but also must convey the spirit, respect and feelings of the people. Each painting therefore becomes a cultural slice, preserving and spreading traditional values, contributing to educating the young generation about love for the homeland and country and contributing to creating the source of Eastern culture.

According to artisan Pham Thi Hoa, owner of the Hoa Nhuong high-end hand embroidery facility in Xuan Neo village, although hand embroidery paintings are not widely advertised like other industrial products, they quietly reach domestic and foreign customers with all their sincerity. Up to now, the Hoa Nhuong high-end hand embroidery facility has supplied paintings to the following countries: America, Korea, Russia, Japan and is receiving orders to Taiwan.

Hand embroidery establishments in Xuan Neo village now not only embroider paintings but also accept embroidery of patterns on blankets, sheets, pillows, clothes, etc. Thanks to its uniqueness and enduring vitality, the craft village has become an attractive destination, where tourists can both visit and witness artisans embroidering paintings.

In the Xuan Neo embroidery craft village, there are currently about 200 embroiderers, of which 13 have been awarded the title of artisan. For the art of Xuan Neo embroidery to continue to exist, it requires the cooperation of many sides. Authorities at all levels need to pay more attention to planning craft villages associated with tourism , providing capital support, training and promoting products. Organizations need to join in encouraging the younger generation to learn the craft, considering it the pride of their homeland. In addition, artisans also need to proactively innovate and apply information technology to promote products. At the same time, it is necessary to focus on building brands and registering copyrights to enhance value and affirm their position in the market.

Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Dai Son Commune, said that the Xuan Neo embroidery craft is the crystallization of the talent, diligence and love for the homeland of the people here. Each painting is not simply a work of art but also a link between the past and the present, a way to preserve the memories, customs and culture of the nation.

MINH NGUYEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/van-hoa-xu-dong-trong-nhung-buc-tranh-theu-522492.html