In 2013, the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Vietnam submitted the dossier “The Craft of Making Dong Ho Folk Paintings” to UNESCO for consideration to be included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Submitting to UNESCO for inclusion in the List of Needs of Urgent Safeguarding is an urgent action to attract the attention of the international community, mobilize resources and build effective conservation programs, helping the craft of making Dong Ho paintings overcome difficulties, revive and develop sustainably. This will be a practical step to preserve the painting craft and contribute to building a cultural product to become a brand, promoting and introducing Vietnamese culture to the world .
"National colors shine on the paper"
Dong Ho paintings, also known as Dong Ho folk woodcut paintings, are a line of Vietnamese folk paintings originating from Dong Ho village (Song Ho commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province). This is a line of paintings produced by traditional manual methods, using materials available in nature.
In the past, Dong Ho paintings were also called Tet paintings, because they were often produced at the end of the year to serve the decoration and worship needs of families every time Tet comes, Spring comes. The old Tet painting market took place at Dong Ho communal house on the 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st and 26th of the 12th lunar month every year. In each market session, thousands of paintings of all kinds were displayed for sale. During the peak period before 1944, in Dong Ho, there were 17 families participating in the production of paintings. Currently, the consumption of Dong Ho paintings has decreased significantly, due to competition, Western art trends have changed tastes and social awareness. Dong Ho paintings are facing the risk of fading away.
As the 14th generation of the Nguyen Huu family, one of the two rare families still making paintings in Dong Ho painting village, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Huu Qua shared: The number of families specializing in making paintings is too small and up to 90% of the villagers have switched to making votive offerings to make a living, for the sole reason of not being able to find an outlet for the paintings. Currently, there are only 3 families that maintain their ancestors' profession with about 30 people directly involved in making paintings. Currently, there are only 3 families that are dedicated to and stick with the profession, considered the "living heritage" of Dong Ho painting village, namely Meritorious Artist Nguyen Dang Che, Meritorious Artist Nguyen Huu Qua and Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Oanh.
Dong Ho paintings in the cultural industry development strategy
To preserve and promote the value of the painting village, contributing to the development of the cultural industry, Bac Ninh province has inaugurated the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center. Through the artifacts, images, diagrams, and quotes at the Center, viewers can grasp the origin of a famous traditional craft. Organizing the exhibition space "Dong Ho Painting Market" is a practical activity contributing to the protection and development of the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings.
From November 2023 to present, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province has organized fairs recreating the Dong Ho painting market space at the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center. In a space imbued with the identity of Kinh Bac countryside, at the painting market space, visitors can not only admire and buy folk paintings but also learn about the painting making profession, from the raw materials to the stages to get a complete painting.
The Center for Monument Conservation and Tourism Promotion of Bac Ninh has also connected and organized a program to sign agreements on tourism development and promote Dong Ho folk paintings with a number of travel companies to bring more and more tourists to the painting village.
At the National Scientific Conference "Current situation and solutions to preserve and promote the value of traditional Vietnamese art in the context of market economy development and international integration" recently held in Hanoi, Associate Professor, Dr. Doan Thi My Huong, former Head of the Art Research Department, Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, proposed a number of solutions regarding human resources, specifically: Expanding training and teaching forms to create interest and passion for young people in many different forms: including in the general education program in the form of handicraft lessons or art lessons based on ancient capital; Opening vocational training classes, centers, and workshops to produce traditional handicrafts;...
Associate Professor, Dr. Doan Thi My Huong also emphasized the need to build a strategy for developing cultural industries, including policies to support and honor outstanding artisans; Build or establish a fund to support and lend to produce and trade products to increase income; Promote the integration of Dong Ho painting heritage protection into economic development policy plans; Documentation to preserve heritage and build a website to promote and share conservation experiences...
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/buoc-di-thiet-thuc-de-gin-giu-nghe-tranh-dong-ho-post551724.html
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