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| Tourists experiencing the woodblock art space |
Experiencing woodblock prints
Every day, the Woodblock Art Space welcomes a diverse mix of tourists coming to explore and experience making woodblock prints. Coming here, visitors of all ages, from children, students, adults, to local and foreign visitors, can find their own way to come closer to the world of folk prints.
The woodblock prints behind familiar Vietnamese folk painting traditions, including Dong Ho, Hang Trong, Kim Hoang and Lang Sinh, not only offer distinctive images and colors but also tell the stories of their own. Behind the lines, strokes, and motifs are messages and hopes for a better life, giving viewers a glimpse into the rich cultural values embodied in Vietnamese folk art.
For families with young children, the experience is even more appealing as it gives children the chance to create something of their own. Ms. Ha Yen, a visitor from Phu Tho, chose to visit the space with her mother and children during their trip to Hue. Before the trip, she looked up several cultural attractions in Hue on TikTok, YouTube, and Google Maps. Traveling with young children, she preferred places that offered both a cultural experience and hands-on activities that the children could take part in.
Ms. Yen said: “I find the painting activity quite interesting. Being able to print, color, and add our own creative touches to the prints gives my children and me a more engaging way to experience traditional culture.”
The woodblock art space has also become a popular stop for school and university students. Tran Huu Nghi, a university student from Ho Chi Minh City, returned to Hue to visit relatives, and he came to the space to experience it for the first time. “I didn’t know much about woodblock prints before. Experiencing coloring the prints myself gave me a different perspective on this art form. It also helped me learn more about its history and better understand the cultural values conveyed through each artwork,” Nghi shared.
According to Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Diem, founder of the Woodblock Art Space, the venue was envisioned from the outset as a place where the public could discover and experience traditional culture, particularly for those with an interest in folk art.
After learning about the origins and meanings behind each genre of folk prints, visitors can choose a woodblock and print the artwork themselves, then color it either following traditional patterns or adding their own creative touch. Some carefully preserve the original color schemes, while others bring a personal touch to every detail.
Bringing the Soul of Folk Art into Everyday Life
The Woodblock Art Space is home to more than 200 woodblocks representing some of Vietnam’s most well-known folk painting traditions, including Dong Ho, Hang Trong, Kim Hoang, and Lang Sinh. Each genre has its own distinct style and cultural identity, telling stories and reflecting the values and aspirations that have been passed down from generation to generation.
Dong Ho prints express simple hopes for a prosperous life, a happy family, and success in children’s education, while also celebrating the bonds between family members. Hang Trong prints, on the other hand, capture the cultural life of urban communities and the intellectual class in the past. Meanwhile, Lang Sinh prints are closely tied to the folk beliefs and spiritual traditions of the people of Hue.
After four years in operation, the Woodblock Art Space has gained growing recognition. Encouragingly, the initial curiosity of many young visitors has gradually turned into genuine interest and appreciation. Some even spend hours carefully completing their artworks. For them, the value lies not only in the prints they take home, but also in the time and effort they put into creating it themselves.
Ms. Diem said that even as technology continues to advance, making it possible to create a beautiful print with just a few steps, some people still spend hours, even days, patiently completing a single artwork here. Perhaps it is because they want to rediscover the feeling of creating something by hand, slowing down and working directly with traditional materials. “That is also the direction we have chosen to pursue: Bringing traditional art beyond the confines of exhibition spaces, allowing the public to interact with it and become part of the creative process,” Ms. Diem said.
This approach helps bring values that may seem rooted in the past closer to younger generations, allowing a love for folk prints to grow from their initial curiosity. That appreciation, together with a growing interest in experiencing and using these products, can breathe new life into traditional folk art. After all, artisans need to make a living from their craft. When people understand and appreciate these artworks and seek them out, artisans have greater motivation to continue preserving the techniques passed down through generations.