The collection “Ao dai with Hue painting” towards popularity
The “Ao Dai with Hue painting” collection includes 30 designs inspired by the lacquer works called "Heaven - Land - People" by the painter - Truong Be and meditative characteristics in the paintings of the painter - Nguyen Thi Hue, along with sketches about Hue in the exhibition “Hue Cultural Heritage’s Sketches 2020”.
Through the Ao dai designs, viewers have a chance not only to enjoy the vignettes representing the immense cosmic space with strong moving lines of the painter Truong Be but also to contemplate the tranquil meditation bearing Hue characteristic in artist Nguyen Thi Hue’s paintings and the beautiful scenes of Hue’s mossy royal tombs and monuments through the toughs of sketch art.
The target audience of the designs of Truong Be’s works is those who like unique and way-out beauty. Meanwhile, those who like the tender and minimalistic beauty can choose Nguyen Thi Hue’s painting style, or sketches of Hue’s beauty.
Applying digital printing and dyeing technology on poly fiber and silk fabrics, the artworks designed by Viet Bao retain all artistic values when being transformed onto Ao dai, thereby honoring the aesthetic value of the ao dai - the costume impregnating itself with the Vietnamese woman’s soul.
In Hue, Viet Bao is one of the pioneers of applying this technique. After importing white raw cloth from prestigious fabric factories to Hue, Viet Bao uses his technology to dye, print, and decorate patterns for Ao dai.
Viet Bao, the designer, stated that the process of applying digital printing and dyeing on fabric consists of the following steps: formulating concept, designing graphics, then printing heat transfer with chemical paper before using a heat press machine using heat to melt the ink on the medicated paper, make it adhere to the fabric and finish the process to make products.
In particular, the stage of designing a graphic to transform the painting onto Ao dai is the most important one. In this step, it is possible to select a number of vignettes in the paintings or a part of the painting in accordance with the ratio, rules, and decorative layout of ao dai.
Viet Bao shared: “The advantage of this technology is that it can transmit the data of the design file to the fabric vividly, and the customer can change the color as desired. With this technology, I can protect my copyright. Previously, when there was no technology like this, I had to send the fabric to the South for outsourcing, and people could re-use my designs".
In the context of constructing “Hue – The Capital of Ao Dai”, the design of collections bearing Hue's signature is a unique idea. In addition to exploiting royal art, the designers can put works of famous artists, such as Diem Phung Thi (a sculptor), Le Ba Dang (a painter), or contemporary artists onto ao dai.
In the development orientation of the “Ao Dai Hue Space” that has just been opened at 7 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hue, the designer Viet Bao will collaborate with Hue Museum of Fine Arts to get other paintings adapted onto ao dai.
In addition to the skillful seams of Hue’s talented tailors, visitors to Hue can own ao dai dresses printed and dyed by Hue people with decorative motifs bearing the unique identity of the beautiful landscape of the Huong river, of Mount Ngu Binh, and of Hue's soulful paintings identified by famous artists of Hue.
“The beauty of Hue Ao dai must be shown from the seams, patterns, and material. Therefore, I want to bring the beautiful landscapes of this ancient land onto Ao dai. At present, thanks to the skillful tailors, Hue Ao dai are well-known. However, the fabric and designs that we use are still so popular, which can be found anywhere in this country and it has not yet expressed the specific characteristics of Hue. Putting art of painting onto ao dai can be seemed like a way that I honor Hue painting and beautify ao dai through painting. Making the distinctive ao dai designs of Hue, resonating with the skilled and highly qualified tailors’ can be a way to elevate the value of Hue Ao dai,” the designer shared about his concern.
With the collection “Ao dai and Hue painting” towards the popularity, everybody can wear it not only the young ladies who are in shape but also the middle-aged women, government officers, kids, and the elderly. Viet Bao shared that his designs are made for everybody, not just for performing on fashion shows. Hence, Ao dai can always be spread through all generations and classes.
Story and photo: Trang Hien