Dong Ho Folk Painting In My Heart

All of us - old people have had a childhood with spring days of very Vietnamese sound and colors, as poet Tu Xuong said:

"The firecrackers crackles in the yard outside

The painting of chickens flashy on the wall inside."

Every time having a chance to come back Dong Ho, we are always strongly impressed by girls folk songs:

"A brother walking on the road

Please stop to enjoy the senses for driving the sadness away

Please buy a bright color picture

Please buy a flock of chickens or pigs."

With that sweet memory, I visited the Folk Painting Hall of the Art Museum. In there, pictures from Dong Ho as well as Hang Trong describe fully Vietnamese spring moods. The colors are so alive as if dancing, heroes in pictures seem to challenge the time. Dong Ho's paintings are really sincere, authentically Vietnamese, therefore anyone living distant from the fatherland bears in their mind the Dong Ho's aestheticism, as poet Hoang Cam said:

"Dong Ho's chickens and pigs pictures are cheerful

National colors are dazzling on painting papers."

Natural colors of red stones, leaves, oyster shells, flowers, wood and bamboo leaves coal...are used only and become typical features of Dong Ho's painting papers. In fact, those color sources exist everywhere in the country, but only Dong Ho people know how to use them as art materials. Available in nature, the colors become valuable art materials. The smooth, shiny "Dzo" paper is for writing poems only. But after coated colors from oyster shell or red stones, the paper can be transferred into glittering stars sky. Thanks to creative, talent mind of Dong Ho people, the very simple things have become nation's art property, Dong Ho people have contributed to human-kind's such a valuable beauty.

With a deep impression, I came back to the cradle of the art treasure. Thorough many centuries, 17 families of Dong Ho have lived and produced pictures. But unfortunately, only Nguyen Dang's family has followed the trade. In the years of the 21st century, only one person remains paining, preserving Dong Ho's art - artist Nguyen Dang Che.

Dong Ho is a small village but it is easy to find. From Hanoi, go along the High way No1 Bac Ninh. At 30th Kilometer, turn to the road No. 38, go ahead 12 Kilometer more, across the river or go along the High way No. 5 to Phu Thuy station at 16th Kilometer. Turn to the road No. 179 go ahead 2Kilometer and turn to the road 181, go to about 20Kilometer, you will reach Dong Ho. Artist Nguyen Dang Che will show you the most sufficient set of carving boards - a picture making process from A to Z and many picture collections. Hopefully, there will be next generations after him to go on with the Dong Ho's painting trade for keeping it alive forever.

By Mr. Phuc Thinh
Website: http://www.vietnamtravelbudget.com

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