Amidst the modern pace of life, when many traditional craft villages are gradually losing their successors, there are still young people who choose to stay and continue their ancestors' craft. In Dong Ho painting village (Thuan Thanh, Bac Ninh), Mr. Nguyen Huu Dao (1990) is one of the few people like that.
Born into a family with a tradition of making Dong Ho paintings, Mr. Dao is the son of artisan Nguyen Huu Qua, who has "maintained the fire" for the traditional craft for more than 50 years. Right from a young age, Mr. Dao was attached to the craft early. "From a young age, I was used to drying paper and paintings. At about 7-8 years old, I started learning to print paintings, and woodcutting was only done at 17-18 years old," he shared.
For him, following the profession is not a temporary decision, but his own choice. "I feel comfortable doing this job. I have passion and am attracted by traditional values," Mr. Dao affirmed.
In fact, as Mr. Dao admitted, not many young people today want to stick with handicrafts. Pressure on income, working environment and development opportunities makes many people choose office and factory jobs instead of following traditional professions.
Working for a company, income is more stable, the environment is also comfortable, and it is easy to expand relationships. But this job is hard and heavily dependent on the market," Mr. Dao frankly shared.
However, for him, everyone has their own choice. "I choose the profession because I understand its value. Each painting is not just a product, but the crystallization of culture, of time. If I don't do it, who will keep it?", Mr. Dao said.
Not only stopping at inheritance, Mr. Dao also wants to bring Dong Ho paintings closer to the public, especially young people. According to him, when viewers understand the story and value behind each painting, they will have true respect.
The young artisan shared: "I choose the profession because I want to preserve the family tradition". That affirmation is not just a personal choice, for Mr. Nguyen Huu Dao, being attached to Dong Ho paintings is also the continuation of a journey that has been passed down through many generations. Born into a family with a tradition of craftsmanship, he early realized his responsibility for the values left by his ancestors.
Growing up with the smell of diep paper, natural colors and wood carvings that have been stained with time, love for the profession came to him naturally. But to truly stick with it for a long time, it is also a conscious choice, when he understands that if his generation does not continue, the traditional profession will gradually break down, and it will be difficult to overcome the decay of time.
In the context that many young people choose to leave their hometowns to find a more stable job, Mr. Dao's decision to stay is inevitably stressful. However, instead of seeing it as a disadvantage, he considers this an opportunity to preserve a part of the cultural identity of his family and homeland.
Not everyone chooses this path, but I think each profession has its own value. If I understand and cherish it, I will have the motivation to pursue it to the end," he said.
Amidst the changes of the times, young people choosing to return to traditional crafts is not only a personal story, but also a positive sign for the journey of preserving culture. Although there are still many difficulties ahead, it is people like Mr. Dao who are contributing to preserving the "soul" of a folk painting that has existed for hundreds of years.
For a craft village to exist, it not only needs past values, but also needs people who love enough to continue writing the future.
