An exhibition entitled Chuoi Rung (Wild Banana) featuring nearly 40 artworks by painter Tran Ngoc Hung is opened to public in Hanoi. Wild Banana showcases a new series of paintings made by Hung over more than 10 years, featuring powder colours on Vietnamese traditional do (poonah) paper. This is the first time the artist has debuted his do paintings.


Wild Banana series by artist Tran Ngoc Hung.(Source: VNA)

"I was inspired by wild banana a long time ago when I was a student having field trips to the northern mountainous provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La La," said Hung. "I focus on expressing wild banana flowers which wither for fruit banana."

Hung studied lacquer at the Industrial Fine Arts University and works with both lacquer and poonah. The poonah paintings combine traditional materials of the paper and powered colours in a modern style.

Poonah paper is made from the bark of the poonah tree which can be found in Vietnam’s northern region. The paper has been used widely since the 18th century in Vietnamese folk art such as Dong Ho, Hang Trong and Kim Hoang paintings.

"I want to recover traditional poonah paper and draw in the medium of powder colours which were used by Vietnamese artists from 1990s and before," Hung said. "Nowadays, almost no artist wants to draw with powder colours because it is difficult to mix."

"Thanks to the paper’s unique characteristics -- durable and resilient, it has to go through a series of meticulous and complicated steps which are carried out manually," Hung said.

He buys the paper at the handicraft village of Dong Cao in Bac Ninh province, and he dyes the paper with bright and warm tones before he draws.

The wild banana flower theme is a way for Hung to reveal his findings on visual art language and inner feelings.

"I haven’t had chance to see wild banana flower in Vietnam but through the beautiful paintings by artist Hung I feel the beauty and charming of this flower," said Park-hyejin, the Korean Culture Centre’s director in Hanoi.

"I’m surprised that do paper is similar to Korean hanji paper which makes each painting more attractive. I hope the exhibition is a chance for Korean and Vietnamese people to discover the natural beauty made by a talented artist."

Hung currently works at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. He has had many group exhibitions in Vietnam and abroad including in Italy in 2013 and China in 2012. His first solo was held at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in 2015.  

The poonah painting exhibition will run until September 29 at the Korean Culture Centre.

 

                       Source: VNA

 

Related Topics


Hoa Binh province preserves and promotes Muong singing values

Once a vibrant part of the daily life for the Muong ethnic group in Hoa Binh province, traditional Muong singing styles such as "thuong rang bo meng” and "hat dup giao duyen” had faded over time. Today, local authorities and communities are working to restore and celebrate this cultural art form, recognising its value in preserving the group’s heritage.

Vibrant Gau Tao Festival of Mong community

Gau Tao Festival, one of the most important traditional festivals of the Mong ethnic minority group in Mai Chau district was held at the Pa Co stadium in Pa Co commune on January 11.

Mysterious ancient engravings in valley of My Thanh commune

The ancient stone engravings dating back thousands of years in Suoi Co valley in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, used to astonished domestic archaeologists. What their meaning is and what message they convey are the questions to which scientists are seeking answers.

Hoa Binh works hard on cultural value preservation

Preserving and promoting unique cultural identities of ethnic communities in Hoa Binh province is considered a crucial task amid in the international integration trend.

Muong cultural heritage museum contributes to sustainable tourism development

More than just a cultural and historical attraction, the Muong Cultural Heritage Museum is playing a vital role in fostering sustainable tourism in the Northwestern region of Vietnam, particularly in Hoa Binh province. It stands as a model for the emerging trend of "responsible tourism," cleverly blending the preservation of cultural heritage with community economic development, raising awareness of Muong ethnic cultural values while promoting green tourism and sustainable growth.

Efforts made to preserve Muong people’s “Bi doi” instrument

The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on December 24 organised a conference to report on the results of collecting, researching, restoring, and preserving "Bi doi”, a musical instrument of the airophonic family and a traditional instrument of the Muong ethnic people in Da Bac district.