Vietnam Truc Chi art is a new art form derived from Vietnamese traditional paper-making craft. It uses natural fibers, such as bamboo, straw, and sugarcane, to make paper, and then applies water pressure to create images and patterns on the paper. Truc Chi art can be used to make various products, such as paintings, lanterns, books, and fans. It can also express the history, culture, and identity of Vietnam.
The origin of Truc Chi
Truc Chi Art is a new art form derived from Vietnamese traditional paper-making craft. It was created by painter Phan Hai Bang, a lecturer at Hue University of Arts, in 2012. He and his colleagues successfully researched the method of making handmade paper from natural fibers, such as bamboo, straw, sugarcane, banana, leaves, grass, etc. He then applied water pressure to create images and patterns on the paper, using the principles of graphic arts and modern techniques. Truc Chi Art is influenced by the history and culture of Vietnam, especially Hue, the former imperial capital. Truc Chi Art aims to express the pride, identity, and creativity of the Vietnamese people, and to integrate and develop their culture with the world.
The process to make a Truc Chi artwork
The technical term “Trucchigraphy” refers to the following: the process of making traditional handicraft paper; the technique of applying water pressure (quite common in some countries); and the principles of graphic arts. The process of making Truc Chi consists of two main stages.
The first is the traditional paper-making process. The raw materials are soaked, boiled with lime, ground, and pounded into pulp, then spread evenly on a mold.
The next stage is the Truc Chi process. The artist uses a hose to spray water onto the wet sheet of paper to change the fibers’ structure, creating different levels of thickness. In this way, images are formed. This process is repeated several times based on principles of etching and serigraphy-printing techniques to create sophisticated shades of varied hues and intensity. The artist can also use the water hose as a “paint brush” to sketch on the wet paper sheet and create special effects. Using jets of water to create graphic arts on paper forms the core idea of Truc Chi art.
Artistic and Cultural value of Truc Chi Art
Truc chi allows for rich and complex means of expression. Subtle differences in thickness yield different effects, especially when interacting with light. The effects on the surface depend on the light source. With front lighting, thick parts appear bright in the shade while thinner parts appear darker. Backlighting yields the opposite effect: thicker parts will be darker whereas thinner parts will appear lighter. This flexibility attracts and inspires both audiences and artists.
Truc Chi Art has been recognized as an elegant and sophisticated art form that can communicate with various visual cues and other art forms. It can also be applied to product design, interior and exterior design, fashion, and jewelry design. Truc Chi Art has been exhibited and awarded in many national and international events, such as the art project in the basement of the National Assembly building in 2018, the Overseas art project in France in 2018, and the Echoes exhibition in the Hue Citadel in 2015. Truc Chi Art is a unique and innovative contribution to the world of paper art and Vietnamese culture.
Having appeared in country-wide exhibitions and Hue Traditional Craft Festival seasons, Truc Chi is highly appreciated. It is considered as a traditional cultural form of art which is not only creative but also elegant. The formation of Truc Chi is the effort of artist Phan Hai Bang and colleagues to promote the message “Paper is art – paper-making craft is also a form of art”. Moreover, it is an effort to contribute new cultural values in Hue, Vietnam.
Overall, the cultural value of Vietnam Truc Chi Art lies in its ability to bridge the past and the present, celebrating tradition while embracing innovation. It is a powerful testament to Vietnamese creativity, resilience, and connection to nature and community.
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