Special book on Hang Trong folk paintings launched

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"Hang Trong folk paintings" (Dong tranh dan gian Hang Trong) is the result of two-year preparation of collector Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, following the publication of two previous editions featuring two other genres of Vietnamese folk paintings - "Kim Hoang folk paintings" (Dong tranh dan gian Kim Hoang) and "Dong Ho folk paintings" (Dong tranh dan gian Dong Ho). 

All three of the books have been made by the author herself, from going on field trips, meetings with artisans, designing and printing.

"Hang Trong folk paintings" book.

This 340-page coloured publication includes five chapters exploring the history, the artistic value, the painting techniques, the classification, and the vitality of Hang Trong folk paintings.

To compile the information for the book, she met senior artisan and the only temporary practitioner of Hang Trong folk paintings, artisan Le Dinh Nghien and his son Le Hoan to record their career stories.

According to artisan Le Dinh Nghien, although a number of publications on Hang Trong folk painting have been published, Hoa’s book provides the fullest and most detailed coverage of the genre of the painting.

Author Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa introducing the book to participants.

Through the book, Hoa wanted to establish a bride linking Hang Trong folk painting with the contemporary life while inspiring the love for traditional culture among young generation.

Hang Trong folk painting first came into being in the 16th century. The genre peaked in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It used to be widely practiced on the streets of Hang Trong and Hang Non in Hanoi, with two popular types for worshipping and traditional Lunar New Year decoration.

Some distinguished features of Hang Trong paintings are their thin and graceful sketches as well as their richness in colour. The commonly used colours are pink, green, orange, and yellow.

This genre has been appreciated by researchers as highly aesthetic and sophisticated with the wood block printing and colouring techniques.