fate owes Hang Trong paintings
Recalling his first exposure to this painting genre, Nguyen Van Bac said: I saw Quan Am in textbooks and was immediately attracted. The bright colors and soft lines of that painting haunted me throughout my childhood. I paint and paint again and again countless times".
His love for Hang Trong painting grew as he entered college, where he had the opportunity to explore more deeply with folk art. But it was a surprise discovery that made him determined to take this path.
"I was surprised to learn that there is now only one family left, Mr. Le Dinh Nghien still makes Hang Trong paintings. It is a pity that such a great cultural heritage is gradually being forgotten - Bac shared. From there, he determined that his mission was not only to paint, but also to preserve and develop this genre of painting in his own way.
Hang Trong paintings are not simply folk paintings, but also a treasure trove of art with unique painting techniques. Painter Bac explained: The biggest difference of Hang Trong painting compared to Dong Ho painting or Kim Hoang painting lies in the use of color.
If Dong Ho paintings are printed from wooden boards, Kim Hoang paintings combine brilliant color areas, Hang Trong paintings use color shading, color blocking and color blocking techniques to create a sophisticated color-changing effect. This helps the characters in the painting to have depth and stand out naturally.
Nguyen Van Bac is especially passionate about the painting technique using square pens - an important tool to help create a dark light effect on paper. He said that with just a pen, the artist can extend the color from dark to light, creating harmonious dark and bright areas. This is a unique technique that no other folk painting genre has.
The journey to bring folk paintings closer to the public
Entering the artistic path, Nguyen Van Bac not only faced technical challenges but also had to find suitable materials himself. Do paper, a type of paper used to paint Hang Trong paintings, is not easy to find.
"I have to go all the way to Bac Ninh, to traditional paper factories to choose the right type of paper. The paper must be tough and absorbent enough for the color to stick well while still retaining a soft drawing feature" - Mr. Bac said.
Not stopping at finding materials, Bac also experimented with many new color combination methods. Instead of using completely industrial colors like many commercial paintings today, young artists combine natural mineral colors and industrial colors to ensure bright colors but still last over time.
However, preserving Hang Trong paintings does not mean repainting the original old paintings. Nguyen Van Bac sought to breathe a contemporary breath into paintings by studying the patterns of the Le and Nguyen dynasties, then incorporating them into his works.
"I use the technique of grinding yellow leaves and grinding yellow leaves into powder to paint patterns on the character's shirt. When looking at paintings, people will see that patterns are no longer monotonous lines but seem to be woven with light" - Bac excitedly shared.
Although passionate about traditional art, Bac understands that in order for Hang Trong paintings to not be forgotten, they must reach a modern audience. Young artists realize that if they only repaint the original models, it will be difficult to attract young people. Therefore, he experimented with more modern color paints such as blue, purple, pastel but still kept the soul of Hang Trong painting.
Bac also expands the application of Hang Trong paintings in life by applying folk motifs to fans, lamps, gift boxes, and even fashion designs. When seeing folk paintings appearing in familiar items, or recently film projects and music videos, people will easily love and appreciate them more - Mr. Bac explained.
A encouraging sign is that Nguyen Van Bac's paintings are not only well received domestically but also attract the attention of international friends. Many foreign and overseas Vietnamese tourists have come to him to buy paintings as gifts.
There were French and American visitors who were extremely excited to see Hang Trong paintings. They said that they have never seen a painting genre that is both traditional and sophisticated.
When asked about his future plans, Nguyen Van Bac could not hide his expectations and shared: I want to continue creating many new painting models, both preserving traditional features and having vitality in today's era. Most importantly, I hope that Hang Trong paintings will not only exist in museums but are truly present in life.
With his passion and passion, Nguyen Van Bac is not only a painter, but also a person who is contributing to the revival of a valuable artistic heritage. In the context of folk paintings gradually being overwhelmed by contemporary art, the efforts of Mr. Nguyen Van Bac are the bridge for Hang Trong paintings to continue to shine in today's life and tomorrow.
