Artist Than Van Huy, from Thanh Tien Village, Phu Mau, Hue City, hopes to resume his village’s traditional profession of making paper lotuses which has been lost for over 50 years.
Huy has an exhibition house where he often reveals typical traditional products from his village and paper lotuses.
Huy also will introduce an art arrangement of paper lotuses and many other kinds of paper flowers as he has during the last 2 festivals. “Tourists are very fond of this kind of paper lotus. I will resume this traditional profession and introduce it in this festival as a spotlight of my exhibition. I hope to search for its market through my exhibition and to revive the traditional paper flower method from my village,” said Huy.
Huy said that it takes a lot of effort to make paper lotuses. Moreover, not many people are interested in buying them, so very few people want to maintain this profession. Paper lotuses were often made from drawing papers or Rhamnoneuron (Do) papers. Their scapes are made of rattan trees. However, it takes the most effort to dye the petals. Earlier, masters often dyed the entire petal with only a pink colour but with creativity, Huy has made his lotuses very special with 3 colours including dark pink, light pink and light white, giving his lotuses a real look.
“It’s not difficult to make this kind of flower but it requires much effort. However, we don’t have buyers, so our village stopped making them,” he added.
In addition to paper lotuses, many paintings of lotuses in Huy’s house create a very ideal atmosphere for tourists to enjoy the exhibition.
Painter Than Van Huy stands near his work
Huy combines traditional methods with modern dying techniques to make a special paper lotus
Huy and his friends hope to redevelop their village’s traditional profession
