Visual satisfaction of traditional lacquer works in Binh Duong

The Binh Duong College of Fine Arts and Culture is currently hosting an exhibition of traditional lacquer art from Binh Duong, showcasing numerous works and products of traditional lacquer art by renowned artists in the Binh Duong lacquer art community, both past and present. Visitors to the exhibition not only have the opportunity to admire valuable works collected by the artists, but also to witness firsthand and learn more about the ancient lacquer techniques that were once thought to have been lost.

The exhibition attracts the interest and exploration of many people.

To contribute to preserving the traditional beauty of Binh Duong lacquer art, Binh Duong College of Art and Culture has collaborated with the Lacquer and Sculpture Association of the province to organize the Binh Duong lacquer exhibition. This is considered the most outstanding lacquer exhibition ever held at the school with a history of over 120 years. The exhibition showcases over 50 artworks and products, including paintings, soil vases, decorative plates, wine cabinets, various vases, jars, and especially unique lacquer sets created by artists, lacquer painting professors from the school, along with companies and lacquer establishments within the province's Lacquer - Sculpture Association.

Visitors to the exhibition will be captivated by the artworks showcasing traditional techniques that are rarely seen today. These pieces depict images of Kieu from Nguyen Du, historical paintings, young women, bamboo, birds, goldfish, tigers, cranes, rural landscapes portrayed through intricate techniques such as elaborate scroll sawing, goldfish painting in relief, engraving, carving, eggshell mosaic, gold leaf application, or complex underwater painting. All the authors have demonstrated their expertise and uniqueness through each content, theme, along with the deep colors of the lacquer material that have created the lacquer products, Binh Duong lacquer works are extremely rich, captivating, distinctive, and have long-standing indigenous characteristics.

In this exhibition, the outstanding artist Truong Quang Tinh, Dinh Hoa Lacquer Painting Co., Ltd. showcased over 10 precious lacquer paintings collected and created by him in the past. In addition, there are also many unique vases and lacquer screens that he brought to introduce to art enthusiasts, especially those interested in traditional Binh Duong lacquer art. Trương Quang Tịnh considers the lacquer painting "H'mong Girl" to be the most precious artwork at this exhibition, executed using the hand-shaking painting technique. This is one of the valuable traditional lacquer artworks that he has collected from renowned lacquer artists in Binh Duong in the past. “When it comes to the technique of Son Ta painting, this painting may not be replicated by anyone now," Mr. Tinh shared. Beside that, the viewers are also captivated by many unique artworks that he has collected and created, showcasing distinctive techniques, such as lacquer paintings on ceramics, the painting of the story of Kiều (Thanh Le lacquer) collected and drawn by Mr. Tịnh in an engraved style, or the set of paintings depicting the story of Kieu that he redrawn from the original by artist Duy Liem and added some additional episodes to make it more complete, all of which bring to the viewers very interesting aspects.

In addition to the works, products of Dinh Hoa Lacquer Painting Co., Ltd., in this exhibition, there are also works from businesses such as: Tu Bon Lacquer Painting, Dinh Thieu Lacquer Painting, Sau Thanh Lacquer Painting, and from teachers of Binh Duong College of Art and Culture. The diversity and richness are not only reflected in the techniques of crafting, materials, and forms, but also in the content and themes of the various lacquer art genres applied and artistic lacquer art of Binh Duong. Especially, there are quite a few works by famous artists, masters in the renowned lacquer art community in Binh Duong land in the past that have created their own distinctive features, bringing fame to the lacquer profession in the ancient land of Thu in Binh Duong.

Mr. Le Ba Linh, of the Son Mai Tu Bon Co., stated that over many decades, the art of lacquer painting in Binh Duong is no longer as prosperous as before; artisans, workshops, and practitioners in lacquer painting are gradually decreasing, leading to the decline of the meticulous and exquisite techniques and artistry that once produced the famous works and products of Binh Duong. The concern that establishments and practitioners like us have been pondering and worrying about for many years is how to restore, preserve, and uphold the unique, distinctive techniques and arts imbued with the essence of the traditional lacquer art of Thu - Binh Duong land that once shone brightly," Mr. Le Ba Linh added.

Reported by Hong Thuan – Translated by Vi Bao