Please visit and support my Ðông Hồ art shop. All proceeds will be re-invested into reviving and preserving the art by supporting the artisans.
On my recent trip to visit my homeland, I was honored to spend an afternoon at the art compound of the Meritorious Sir Nguyễn Đăng Chế, one of the oldest and legendary artists in Vietnam shouldering the preservation of Ðông Hồ. Most of the artisans working in Sir Chế’s complex are in the family, who hopes to pass the skills on to the next generations.
We spent the afternoon observing in awe the meticulous artistic process in action - from drawing the template outline to carving the woodblocks to printing and adding the finishing touches. In Afterwards, Sir Chế treated us to a short seminar in which he taught us the history and meaning behind certain famous paintings and how they were reflective of the Vietnamese culture.
Through Mr. Chế's family, I learned how our ancestors weaved the natural fibers of the mountains, the land, and the sea together on delicate mulberry papers to paint vibrant stories that teach us valuable themes: like how to be studious and wise as a turtle, but also brave and kind like the ugly toad who sued god to demand rain for the villagers, and also to remember to honor one's roots no matter how successful one becomes in life.
I was also disheartened to learn that due to low demand among the modern audience, the younger generations of artists have switched to more financially lucrative trades, leaving only two families left to carry the dimming torch of this resilient art that survived near extinction during the destruction of French colonialism.
In recent years, thanks to renewed interests from international audiences coupled with preservation initiatives from the Vietnamese government, there is a glimmer of hope for a comeback for the ancient art that has been encapsulating the dualities and essences of Vietnamese life - dark and light, joy and sorrow, triumphs and humility.
It is my hope to bring the beauty of Vietnamese art to the global stage, starting with this collection of authentic Ðông Hồ paintings, purchased directly from the artists in Ðông Hồ art village in Vietnam, complete with stamp of authenticity on every painting. All proceeds from the sales will be re-invested into supporting and reviving this nearly-extinct ancient woodblock art form, by sustaining the artists and artisans and encouraging the new generations to carry the torch of cultural preservations for years to come.
Here is the video that summarizes my visit. Around the 3:21 mark, you will see Sir Chế’s captivating lecture about the meaning of the paintings. You can also purchase Authentic Ðông Hồ art on my Etsy shop.