Location & History
Dong
Ho Village with its famous paintings has become an aesthetic symbol in Vietnam culture. Located
to the left side of Duong River, Dong Ho stood for centuries
making their unique art work. From over 100 families in the
1950s, currently there are only a handful of families still making the
traditional craft. Most villagers have now turned to joss paper making, since
the regulation has relaxed and again allowed for religious practices that were
once deemed “unfit of the revolutionary”. The families of Nguyen Dang Che and Nguyen
Huu Sam both run their own galleries and employ a number of workers. To
everyone’s relief, the essence still remains and thrives.
Arts & Symbols
Dong Ho
paintings are places for artists to reflect their wishes for lucks and
their perception of everyday life in the village. Common themes that are found
consistently include animals (which has goodluck symbol on them), everyday life
(such as Jealous Fight or A Market Day), and folk tales (Saint Giong or The
Frog Teacher). The paper used for the painting is made from bark tree so that
the texture can retain color for a long time. Each family develops their own
mold for the painting. Each mold are then replicated and filled with a separate
share of color. The paintings are made by stamping the mold into the paper, one
at a time to add more and more color to the picture.
Dong Ho paintings are simple,
meaningful and created for the mass. Patrons use to come from agricultural and
low-income families, some of them are illiterate and can not afford other more
exquisite art works. But the meaning is the paintings is, by no means, sub-par.
It reflects both reality and dream of the people.Dong Ho these days has also expanded its tradition, and many new products have taken form, among them xyloglyphics and combined-medium works.
Visitor information
A
visit to Dong Ho family can take 3-4 hours. For the true
art-enthusiasts, skip the amateur Nguyen Dang Che’s tourist-exploiting mill and
go sit down and have a talk to the famous but elusive Nguyen Huu Sam or his son
Nguyen Huu Qua, who are both masters of their trade.
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