Vietnamese Traditional Artists to Showcase Their Work in America
HA NOI — Nguyen Van Thuan was surprised to hear he had been selected for a trip to the US to introduce the traditional art of to he to Americans.
"Firstly I didn’t believe it was true. I never thought my to he could get me as far as the U.S.," said 59-year-old Thuan.
Thuan will make small dolls out of rice dough at a culture fair titled Vietnam Festival in the US this weekend. The fair is being held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relation between the two countries.
The art of making to he is considered a unique art form which requires a creative mind and skilful hands to shape lively toys for children from rice dough.
Thuan says it takes skill to craft the colorful figurines from legends, folk tales and cartoons because it requires aromatic glutinous rice that has been well-soaked, carefully pounded, boiled and dyed.
Thuan comes from Xuan La Commune in northern Ha Tay Province where 80 per cent of inhabitants make to he and many earn a living selling the toys on the streets of big cities.
Apart from to he, Vietnamese artisans will demonstrate the art of Hang Trong traditional paintings, as well as traditional music and dances during the two-day event which kicks off July 9.
The two-day event, to be held on July 9 and 10, is organized by the Embassy of Vietnam in the United States and the Ministry of Culture and Information in collaboration with the U.S. State Department, the Freer Gallery of Arts and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the U.S. – Vietnam Trade Council.
Viet Nam News, July 8, 2005
