Dong Ho village in Bac Ninh province is famous for its traditional folk paintings. Once at risk of fading away, the craft has been preserved and revived thanks to dedicated artisans and local authorities.
Artisan Nguyen Dang Che and his Dong Ho paintings. (Photo: vusta.vn)
Dong Ho village, once home to 17 clans involved in folk painting, now sees only two - the Nguyen Dang and Nguyen Huu clans - is working diligently to preserve this traditional craft. Artisan Nguyen Dang Che, a 20th-generation heir, highlights the use of entirely natural materials: poonah paper, sophora flowers, indigo leaves, kitchen ash, bamboo charcoal, and scallop shells, each contributing to the unique charm of the art.
To preserve the traditional values of Dong Ho paintings, artisan Che sticks to the original processes - using traditional materials, methods, colors, carving, and printing. But to keep them relevant, he updates the themes to give the art a fresh appeal.
"Now, they’ve all been restored. So far, I’ve got 250 designs for individual paintings and 17 designs for sets of paintings," Che said.
Artisan Nguyen Dang Che’s dedication has inspired his offspring. His son, Nguyen Dang Tam, said, "My dad is a role model for us. He’s devoted his whole life to the craft of making Dong Ho folk paitings, and I’m really proud to be a part of it too."
Artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh, a descendant of the Nguyen Dang clan.
Artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh has been working with poonah paper and woodblock printing since she was about nine years old. Now, in her 60s, Oanh still creates paintings despite the hard work.
Oanh said she has loved this craft since she was a kid, and she has stuck with it all these years. "I focus on preserving and restoring the old paintings, but I also try to bring in fresh themes to help Dong Ho art grow."
"If you want your work to last and be recognized, you’ve got to do it well and keep coming up with new ideas. I’ve created almost 60 new themes to keep things exciting,” Oanh said.
Oanh has created over a dozen modern paintings, many of which have won top prizes in craft village competitions. Over the years, she has actively promoted Dong Ho paintings at key events both in Vietnam and abroad.
Her husband, Nguyen Huu Hoa, is a skilled artisan himself. According to Hoa, the Dong Ho painting craft has had its highs and lows. But the key to its survival is finding buyers, he said. "My family works hard to promote and showcase the paintings at local and international fairs to highlight their meaning and value.”
"The Rat’s wedding” is a popular Dong Ho painting. (Photo: Le Son)
Bac Ninh province has established the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center, showcasing over 1,000 documents and artifacts gathered from local residents.
Vuong Dinh Tuyen, Head of the Section of Culture and Information in Thuan Thanh town, said that the local authorities have teamed up with media outlets to organize activities that introduce Dong Ho paintings to tourists, both here and around the world.
In 2013, Dong Ho folk painting was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
