Excursion/Workshop: Double-bill – Folk Earthen Figurines and Đông Hồ paintings in Bắc Ninh

Đông Khê village, Song Hồ commune, Thuận Thành district, Bắc Ninh used to be very famous for Đông Hồ folk paintings and colorful folk earthen figurines (phỗng đất), now mostly bamboo horse frames all over the village. The village has now transformed into one of the largest votive paper manufacturers of Vietnam.

In the middle of this votive paper village, in a small house, there is an old couple working diligently to preserve the traditional folk toys – Mr Phùng Đình Giáp and Mrs Nguyễn Thị Điểu. Mr Giáp, with over 60 years in this profession, is the last artisan making folk earthen figurines (phỗng đất). Those lovely small figurines used to be an essential part of the childhood of children in the Northern areas. “Making earthen figurines is a traditional profession of my family and I am the third generation. No one knows when this folk profession was born, but my family and I will not let it disappear. Today, many people are less and less interested in folk toys, but I have to keep it alive and developed”, shared artisan Phùng Đình Giáp.

Not far away, is the house of Mrs Nguyễn Thị Oanh and Mr Nguyễn Hữu Hoa, who have more than 50 years working with Đông Hồ folk painting. Mrs Oanh said: “Although making Đông Hồ paintings now is not as profitable as making votive paper, I am still determined to follow this career and also direct my children to keep this profession because I feel so proud whenever Đông Hồ painting is honoured”. In addition to traditional topics, many modern topics have been created by Mrs Oanh using traditional materials, which helps revive and develop the Đông Hồ painting.

During this trip, we will gather at each artisan’s house to listen to their sharing and visit their workshop. Each of us will also experience making and colouring ‘phỗng đất’ in the morning and using wood blocks to print the outline in one A4 Đông Hồ paintings in the afternoon (We are not going to use wood blocks to print colours as it requires much more time to let dry, hence we are not able to fit it within one afternoon session)

Having lunch this time will be a bit different. We will gather at Mr Giap’s house and garden to rest and enjoy the village atmosphere for about 1 hour before the afternoon session in Mrs Oanh’s place, so each person will need to bring a packed lunch (like a picnic).

Please note: Since we are doing a double-bill trip with two workshops, the participation fee this time is above the normal trip with one workshop of 450,000/each to cover the material costs and donations for 2 artisans. We believe that experiencing these workshops in the artisans’ settings would be much more authentic and memorable.

max 25 spaces

led by Ly. Please RSVP via this link before 15th November 

https://forms.gle/qgQQNodUVHNVeh6AA

Vietnamese with English interpretation

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