Maintaining the profession from passion and responsibility
Coming from a family with a tradition of making tofu, Artisan Dang Van Hau was exposed to the mold, color, and folk varieties from a young age. However, the road associated with the profession is not completely flat.
"There were times when I wondered if this job could make a living. But then, it was the excited eyes of the children and the respect from the people who loved folk culture that made me determined to pursue it to the end, Mr. Hau shared.
In addition to economic difficulties, one of the biggest challenges is the decline of the profession when the young generation is no longer interested. In the past, everyone in the village knew how to make pork rolls. But now, many people do not even know the existence of this profession, he wondered.
Understanding that to preserve the profession, we cannot only rely on tradition, Mr. Hau has chosen to proactively inspire passion for the younger generation. He opened free vocational training classes for children in the village, not forcing children to follow their father's footsteps in a rigid manner, but oriented them towards voluntariness and parallel thinking.
Not everyone is talented or loves making pork belly, but if they understand the value of the profession, they can contribute to its development in their own way - whether it is by doing business, creating digital content or combining with other professions to expand the market, he shared.
Mr. Hau understands that, compared to the previous generation who considered the profession as the only livelihood in the difficult context, the younger generation today has many options and opportunities to express themselves. Therefore, passing on the profession is not only about teaching techniques, but also about passing on love for the profession, helping children understand that to he is not only a toy but also a proud cultural feature.
Not stopping at preserving the old way, Dang Van Hau always sought to innovate to be able to adapt to modern life. If before, he was mainly squeezed in the picture of traditional fairy characters and animals, now he created more cartoon and superhero characters to attract the attention of children. "I can't keep it forever and blame the next generation who doesn't like it. I have to change to be more suitable," he said.
Not only creative in design, he also put the art of squeezing him into traditional art performances. The contents are shaped by the characters in the classical drama, the artisans or the image in the folk songs, helping these works are not only toys but also reflect Vietnamese cultural depth. "When combined with the art of performing, I found it much more vivid," he shared.
In addition, he also uses social networks to promote and sell products. In the past, bowl of pork was only sold at the rural market or village festival. Now, I can introduce the product through the fanpage, even with orders from abroad, he shared about the new approach.
Not only stopping at traditional tofu products, Mr. Hau also experimented with new models such as making tofu on request, turning them into special souvenirs for tourists and businesses. He also researched the combination of he-ts with decorative products, creating unique collections.
Spreading cultural values
One of the significant steps forward of this young artist is to bring pork leg out of the Vietnamese border. He has had the opportunity to participate in cultural exhibitions in Korea. "Every time I bring pork cake abroad, I find people very curious and excited. They were surprised that a folk toy could be so sophisticated, he said.
Although it has received much attention, bringing to the world pork rolls is not easy. The biggest difficulty is how to make this product not only a toy but also have cultural and artistic value, be recognized and consumed long-term, he shared. Therefore, he is trying to cooperate with international cultural organizations to promote products in a more professional direction.
Although there have been positive changes, for the pork stewing profession to truly develop, Dang Van Hau believes that there needs to be the cooperation of many parties. "This job is not only a livelihood but also a culture. If there is support from cultural and tourism organizations, promotion will be much more favorable, he commented.
He himself also has many plans, from bringing he-hau to art spaces, combined with other creative forms such as fashion, animation, education to building a space to experience he-hau for visitors. I want toys not only to be a toy, but also a cultural symbol that everyone is proud of, he expressed.
With passion, perseverance and creative thinking, Dang Van Hau not only preserves the craft of making tofu but also brings a new look to this folk toy.
And who knows, in the near future, the boars from Xuan La village will not only appear in rural markets but also be present in major art spaces around the world.
