Bac Nhip Tang Bong exhibition

TRUONG CA KICH VIEN

Truong Ca Kich Vien is an on-going digital humanities project aiming to educate young Vietnamese about our traditional performing arts through introductory information sessions, online media exhibitions, and topical articles. Currently, we are organizing the “Bac Nhip Tang Bong” exhibition at Toong Trang Thi, Hanoi.

Hi! This is one of my very first high school projects, and I am the website builder and Head of the Technical department. In this exhibition, I take on the responsibility of liaising with Dong Ho folk painters, antique collectors, traditional clothing and digital art designers, as well as directing the production of marketing images and videos. Here is the album I and my peers made to portray the beauty of artworks and exhibitions and to promote the events.

In an era of integration and development of all forms of modern entertainment, theater art and folk performance - methods of conserving Vietnamese cultural values throughout history - are losing popularity among young people. Despite this, many individuals adore and are passionate about traditional arts. They are artists who are still passionate about performing, artists and designers whose works are inspired by traditional theatrical sources, or photographers who focus their lenses on the beauty of culture. Therefore, our project organizes the "Bac Nhip Tang Bong" exhibition, aiming to celebrate the continuity of the traditional performing arts as portrayed through various activities and works of art by such people - Vietnamese people who contribute to the presence and power of the country's traditions in modern times.

Bac Nhip Tang Bong exhibition

Time: 15/04/2022 - 15/05/2022

Location: Toong Trang Thi, Hanoi

One little corner of exhibition

Tuong Tich Card Deck - a collaboration between Truong Ca Kich Vien and MarginX that combines days of cultural research and design into the production of a playing cards deck. Inspired by Tuong, the deck has been colorfully transformed from simple Western cards into delicate expressions of famous figures in the ancient art of Tuong, such as Ho Nguyet Co, Pham Dinh Cong, Ta On Dinh,... Although "Tuong Tich" is depicted on small-sized cards, the elements that create the unique characteristics of Hat Boi, such as facial expressions and costumes, are still described very thoroughly. The recreated characters still retain their own features, with an extremely lively aura. These cards, designed to combine the old and the new, not only maintain the traditional artistic values but also help Hat Boi come to the public in a novel, unique appearance.

Four digital graphic artworks of four heavenly mothers in the Four Palaces in Vietnamese folk religion. Four Palaces is a major denomination of the Mother Goddess religion, an indigenous polytheistic religion in Vietnam. This branch is popular in the North of Vietnam and has a profound association with the worship of Đức Thánh Trần. Its name literally means "Four Palaces" as its deities are believed to reside in four palaces, each of which serves as a ministry governing one realm of the universe. There are four realms: Heaven, Mountains, Water and Earth. The palaces governing those realms are named as follow: Thiên phủ (Heaven Palace), ruled by Mother Goddess of Heaven (Mẫu Thượng Thiên); Nhạc phủ (Mountains Palace), ruled by Mother Goddess of Highlands (Mẫu Thượng Ngàn); Thoải phủ (Water Palace) ruled by Mother Goddess of Water (Mẫu Thoải); Địa phủ (Earth Palace) ruled by Mother Goddess of Earth (Mẫu Địa Phủ), also known as Mother Goddess of Earth Residence (Lục Cung Thánh Mẫu).

SẮM VAI collection by fashion designer Huong Ta. Commenting on the inspiration for this fashion collection, the designer said: "The three works in the SẮM VAI collection are inspired by the ancient theatrical art of Hat Boi, a long-standing traditional theatrical art form that was once considered the Vietnamese national anthem. In the new era, Hat Boi is in danger of being lost and forgotten. When I saw Hat Boi singers, their performance was carefully prepared, from their Tuong masks to elaborately handcrafted costumes, but the stage was empty of audience. I was strongly urged to do something for Hat Boi, and it became the premise for my project called "Sắm Vai." This is a collection of 9 looks inspired by the art of Tuong masks, where the soul of each mask is considered the soul of Tuong characters. Each character mask in the Tuong has its own unique personality, equivalent to each look, which is shown through different colors and stories representing the roles in the opera. Throughout the collection, a deconstructive structure is applied to the form as well as the use of sewing techniques and hand-crafted wool on a linen surface."

Rối nước - Water puppetry: One of the most iconic Vietnamese performing arts - it portrays the artist’s knowledge and creativity.

Our exhibition not only attracts youngsters, but also catches the attention of people of all ages who have a great interest in Vietnamese traditional performing arts.