"The Beat of Heritage" is the title of the current folk painting exhibition at the Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center at 49 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Lacquered paintings on display in the exhibition. Photo: Minh Thu/The Hanoi Times

Running until September 3, the exhibition features around 60 lacquer carvings depicting familiar themes from the Hang Trong, Dong Ho and Kim Hoang clans.

These artworks are the refined versions of traditional paintings, combining lacquer painting techniques with carving. At the exhibition, art lovers can enjoy the creativity of Vietnamese artists who have preserved and contributed to the development of traditional cultural arts in modern times.

Vietnamese folk paintings are beautiful but not very durable because they are drawn on traditional handmade paper, said Pham Ngoc Long, co-organizer of the exhibition and Chairman of Latoa Indochine.

As a result, artists have found a new way to prolong the life of paintings by combining lacquering and carving techniques, he said.

"The images in lacquer-carved paintings are sharp and deep, and the layers are meticulously polished. This makes the folk paintings more beautiful, modern and luxurious, which enhances their cultural and artistic value," he added.

According to Long, Latoa Indochine artists want to revive, promote and preserve folk painting and Indochine-style architecture, giving a new face to traditional arts and breathing new life into traditional arts in the modern age.

Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee, highlighted Vietnamese folk painting as a national treasure with a long history.

"Many folk painting methods have faded with the rise of modern art. Therefore, Latoa Indochine's restoration of folk paintings on lacquer-carved materials will breathe new life into these once-famous art forms," he said.

According to the exhibition organiser, lacquer-carved paintings are created through meticulous and elaborate steps. Artists design graphics on a computer, print them on paper, transfer them to a wooden panel using titanium white powder, carve out details, apply several layers of paint, polish the painting with water and finally gild it with gold and silver.

To help visitors understand the process of creating a lacquered painting, the exhibition will feature interactive activities throughout.

The exhibition is part of a series of events commemorating the 79th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19), National Day (September 2), and the 70th anniversary of Hanoi Liberation Day (October 10).

The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday, 9am-5pm.