Vietnamese Art: All You Need To Know

The fact that Vietnamese art has one of the most extraordinary histories in the world demonstrates the age of extensive pottery collections, which date back to about 8000 BCE. They are regarded as the country's earliest artworks despite being fairly simple clay-made pieces with little ornamentation. However, the Vietnamese began incorporating decorative features in the Neolithic period. These components later developed during the following few millennia, during which they had highly developed bronze-casting abilities. At that time, they began producing the renowned "ong Son” drums, which feature geometric designs and images of daily life like farming sceneries and shipbuilding.

Traditional Vietnamese Art

Traditional Vietnamese art is created by a particular group of people as a part of their culture, using techniques and expertise that have been handed down from masters to apprentices over many generations. However, in my "art world," which is the academic setting, we frequently allude to what we term Classical Art, which is the viewpoints that came from the Renaissance and Illuminism about what art should stand for in society. These ideals, which first appeared in the Renaissance but persisted well into the 19th century, are closely related to academicism. Beginning in the 16th century, European art academies developed, formalized, and taught academicism as a strategy for professionalizing art education. Academicism includes the adoration of ancient tradition, the esteem of eminent masters, and the adoption of ideals that were jointly developed and have ethical as well as aesthetic motivations. And my suggestion is to speak about these ideas. Those ideas, at least, are ones I accept and believe in. But in essence, all forms of art produced before Modern Vietnam Art and the Modernist Movement are referred to as Classical Art.

Modern Vietnamese Art

Since the publication of the Reform Policy by the party and the States of Vietnam (in 1986), which provided the momentum for inspiration and democracy in Vietnam art creation, modern Vietnam art has seen a significant transformation. Vietnamese artists developed a stronger desire for creativity, research, and discovery over the past three decades. They also became more concerned with social issues, more open to experimenting with a variety of media and themes, and more assured in their ability to connect their work to regional and global developments.

Through various styles, artists have demonstrated various artistic tendencies. Trinh Ba Quat, Dinh Thi Tham Poong, and Nguyen Bach Dan are few painters whose works express deeply ingrained cultural traits and traditional identity from Asia. Nguyen Ngoc Dan and Pham Binh Chuong are painters who employ realism in their work. Do Minh Tam and Vinh Phoi are also abstract painters. Ha Chi Hieu and Do Hoang Tuong are expressionists. Artists who use abstract expression include Vo Xuan Huy.

The sculptures by Duong Dang Can, Phan Phuong Dong, and Vuong Van Thao demonstrate the diversity of artist languages. Modern Vietnamese art is rapidly evolving and has found success thanks to the harmonious blending of tradition and modernity as well as the diversity of ideas and media.

Contemporary Art

The younger generation of Vietnamese artists is now very active in incorporating different forms of art, such as installation, performance, and video art, in addition to working with traditional materials like oil, acrylic, and lacquer on wood. Many of them have achieved international recognition for their artworks and exhibitions worldwide. For instance, Nha San Collective (formerly Nha San Studio), founded in 1998, was the country of Vietnam's first artist-led, non-profit project. The first generation of Vietnamese avant-garde artists to emerge in the early 1990s was fostered by Nha San studio.

One of the most esteemed collections of contemporary Vietnamese art in the entire globe is the RMIT University Vietnamese Art Collection. In addition to being significant historically, this collection will advance knowledge of Vietnamese culture for many years to come. The Vietnamese artists represented in the collection range from well-known and mid-career artists, whose works have been included in important exhibitions, illustrious private collections, and prestigious public institutions around the world, to young emerging artists who continue to approach issues with novel and original interpretations. This collection enables both students and the general public to witness the artistic expression of an important generation of modern Vietnamese artists. The RMIT Library Vietnam is in charge of the art collection.

Vietnam Architecture 

Asian and European architectural influences coexist in Vietnamese construction. Its history can be broken down into key eras, including the ancient, colonial, modern, and current periods of architecture.

One of the most distinctive aspects for visitors is the building, which represents a component of Vietnamese culture. Chinese and Western architectural influences were evident in Vietnam as a result of colonial rule, but we also created our own unique style. Furthermore, despite wars, sophisticated Vietnamese architecture can still be found throughout the country in places like the Hanoi Old Quarter, ethnic stilt dwellings, a variety of temples and pagodas, community homes, and historic villages.

Vietnamese architecture is incredibly amazing and varied, and it may be classified into four categories according to its historical periods: ancient, colonial, modern, and contemporary. Traditional Vietnamese architecture has certain recognizable traits.

As shown on the bronze Dong Son drums, it is thought that Vietnamese people once resided in stilt homes. Even today, Vietnam art still has homes of this nature.

Chinese architecture had a significant impact on the fundamental design of many different types of Vietnamese buildings during the period of Chinese influence in Vietnam, including pagodas and temples, communal homes, mansions of scholar-bureaucrats, nobility, and imperial palaces and quarters. However, these buildings used both native and Chinese design elements. With the 19th-century French colonization of Vietnam, numerous structures in the French architectural style were built, including homes, governmental structures, opera theaters, etc. These structures, many of which are still standing in Vietnam, are among the most obvious examples of the French colonial legacy.

The following are a few of Vietnam's most significant architectural creations:

- Van Mieu, also known as The Temple of Literature, is a landmark in Hanoi, North Vietnam. It was built in the Ly Dynasty and honored Confucius and his followers. Despite the fact that much of it needs repair, it is a beautiful illustration of the grandeur of Ly Dynasty architecture. The iconic stone steles are located in the middle of the Temple of Literature, which is made up of a number of courtyards, structures, and pavilions. The names of PhD candidates who passed the Imperial test are written on these styles, which are set atop stone turtles. The "Quoc Tu Giam” or National University, which operated from 1076 to 1779, is also located inside the temple.

- Imperial City, Hue: A new imperial citadel in Hue was constructed under the Nguyen Dynasty, and it was also known as the Purple Forbidden City. It was partly modeled after the Chinese Forbidden City in Beijing. It still used a lot of overtly Vietnamese design elements, though. Later, more imperial buildings were constructed, including the distant tomb of Khai Dinh, which also featured French architectural features. Because of its location next to a large lotus pond, the mausoleum of Minh Mang is frequently cited as one of Hue's most beautiful buildings. Its building wasn't finished till after Minh Mang passed away. Prior to the wars and struggles that followed, the castle was part of a massive estate that was largely destroyed and ultimately converted into rice paddies. UNESCO is actively renovating the remaining areas.

- One Pillar Pagoda: The Emperor Ly Thai To is credited with designing the one pillar pagoda, one of Hanoi's oldest buildings. According to legend, the emperor yearned for a son and one night had a dream in which the Goddess of Mercy offered him a son while sitting on a lotus flower. He gave the go-ahead for the building of a modest pagoda in the shape of a lotus that looked out over a pond out of appreciation and reverence for his dream. Due to the pagoda being destroyed and set on fire in battles by rivals, it has been rebuilt numerous times.

- Perfume Pagoda: The Perfume Pagoda is a historic building in the Ha Tay province that is situated in Perfume Mountain. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people gather there for a celebration. Most visitors get to the pagoda after an hour-long boat ride over the picturesque river, passing by the countryside's numerous lesser pagodas. There are several temples and buildings inside, as well as a grotto with stairs leading to "Heaven's gate” and "Hell's gate” routes. One discovers the Inner temple by plunging far into the grotto. Many Vietnamese poems have been inspired by the Perfume Pagoda's beauty and its surroundings.

Vietnamese Calligraphy 

In the past, Chu Han and Chu Nom were both used in calligraphy in Vietnam. However, Chu Quoc ngu, which is based on Roman characters and is widely used in modern Vietnamese calligraphy, is the preferred method.

Calligraphy played a significant role in Vietnamese culture even though only scholars and aristocrats could read the traditional character-based writing systems used in Vietnam. People used to request calligraphy hangings from the local instructor or scholar for major occasions like the Lunar New Year (often poetry, folk sayings or even single words). People who were illiterate would frequently hire scholars to write prayers that they would then burn at temple shrines.

Visual arts

Silk painting

One of the most well-liked artistic genres in Vietnam is Vietnamese silk painting, which is valued for the ethereal ambiance it can create. Vietnamese art acquired French influence in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the liberal and contemporary use of color in particular started to set Vietnamese silk paintings apart from their Chinese, Japanese, and Korean counterparts. Vietnamese silk paintings frequently depict rural settings, landscapes, pagodas, historical moments, or everyday occurrences.

Woodblock prints

Vietnamese woodblock prints, a traditional Vietnamese art with a long history in Vietnam, are now well-known outside of Vietnam. The paint, which is pressed into paper and applied to wood, is made from organic elements. Repeat the procedure using other colors.

Vietnam Photography 

Vietnamese commercial photographers introduced photography to the country in the middle of the 19th century from France and China. Since its invention, a wide variety of photography techniques, including fine art photography, documentary photography, and landscape photography, have developed. Following Doi Moi, the development of such techniques has intensified, leading to a diversity of artist support and increasing global exposure.

The history of film is also connected to that of photography. The brothers Auguste and Louis Lumière made the first film in Vietnam, "NamoVillage - Panorama Taken from a Rickshaw" (Le Village de Namo - Panorama pris d'une chaise à porteurs), in the village of Namo (Nam O) in Danang in 1896, not long after they invented the movie camera in 1895. They had already helped their father learn the craft of photography, and they later figured out how to continually run film through a camera. After creating the movie camera, Auguste and Louis Lumière were dispatched to film all over the globe, bringing back fascinating perspectives of distant lands (i.e., the colonies) for lecturers in France. The following study will briefly touch on cinematic history in Vietnam without going into great detail on film history, which is not the aim of this essay.

Performing art

Traditional music in Vietnam 

Each and every culture and group must have music. One of the few areas where both Western and Eastern music have influenced local music is Vietnam. Vietnam's music is the most sought-after tourist attraction since it ranges so interestingly from pop to traditional music. China, Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other nations have all affected Vietnamese music. Vietnam's music is very varied and has influences from almost 54 minor ethnic groups.

The best of the 50 national musical instruments in Vietnam is the percussion. Since Vietnam was a monarchy, the people have produced fresh, varied music that is still in demand today. Locals can still be seen singing folk tunes while strumming a guitar late into the night.

Vietnam's traditional music spans a wide range of genres and regional variations, with many different styles. The following are some of the most well-known genres:

- Quan ho: This improvisational music style is performed a cappella and has a long history in Vietnam where it is employed in ritualistic wooing processes.

- Music from the Imperial Court: During the feudal era in Vietnam, music was played in the court. Court music from the Tran to the Nguyen dynasties is included when speaking specifically of the "Nha nhac” form. It includes a variety of instruments, musicians, and dancers wearing ornate costumes.

- Ca tru: A classical chamber music style that was developed in the imperial court. Gradually, it grew to be linked with a geisha-style of entertainment, in which gifted women musicians plied their trade for wealthy and influential men, frequently intellectuals and bureaucrats, who were the ones who preferred the genre. Due to erroneous associations with prostitution that led to the government's condemnation in the 20th century, it has recently had a rebirth as recognition of its cultural significance has increased. Vietnam has submitted all the necessary paperwork for Ca tru to be considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Vietnamese traditional theater

Genres consist of:

- Cai luong: A type of contemporary folk opera that has its roots in South Vietnam and makes considerable use of vibrato. In contrast to other folk genres, it continues to be quite well-liked in contemporary Vietnam.

- Hat cheo: In the past, this type of theater and music was more popular with the general people than the more obscure Ca trù, which was more popular with elites and academics.

- Hat tuong (also known as Hat boi): A theatrical style with strong Chinese opera influences that evolved from being entertainment for the royal court to itinerant troupes that performed for commoners and peasants and featured numerous well-known stock characters.

Vietnamese traditional dance 

The typical dances in Vietnam change depending on where you go. There are many different genres of music to be heard, but there are only a few specific traditional Vietnamese dances, and these dances play a significant part in the culture of the nation. Until this day, relying on traditions that are still practiced, where culture is significant in music and dance as well as history. Due to its complexity and depth, Vietnamese traditional dances will be examined in the sections that follow. They have a strong focus on theater, are prominent in the music played during ceremonies, and are used in a variety of rites and well-known Vietnamese festivals.

The Vietnamese dances changed over time in accordance with the traditions of each Royal House in their individual mandates, but they were always performed as an offering to the kingdom and to wish prosperity to the country and the royal court. This foundation is still upheld today. The musical genre known as Nhac, which combines traditional music's tradition and culture with a fusion of Western practices, especially when rendered by female vocals, exhibits the impact of the West. Dance preserves the classical ballet of the ancient Hmong and Cham dances, while on holidays the well-known Lion dance appears, which is either performed during the day or at night depending on whether it is seen in the southern or northern region of the country. Dance movements point more than anything to the dynamics and the great variation of styles and movements.

Each of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam has its own traditional dance. There are many traditional dances performed frequently at festivals and other special events among the ethnic Vietnamese population, including the lion dance.

A number of intricate court dances that demand tremendous expertise have evolved within the imperial court over the years. The imperial lantern dance, fan dance, and platter dance are a few of the more well-known ones.

Vietnamese water puppetry 

A distinctive kind of Vietnamese art that dates back to the 12th century is water puppetry. A split-bamboo screen hides the water-based puppets that are controlled by long poles dangling below the surface. Epic tales are performed with a wide variety of characters, frequently representing traditional Vietnamese life. Despite almost going extinct in the 20th century, it has been preserved and is now primarily visited by visitors to Vietnam.

Top 7 Unique Traditional Vietnamese Art 

Lacquerware

The multi-layered craftsmanship of Vietnamese lacquerware sets it apart. It is a difficult and sophisticated art form that requires a lengthy, labor-intensive procedure that can take up to 100 days and 20 stages to accomplish. Typically, mother-of-pearl, duck egg shells, gold or silver leaves are inlaid with high-gloss lacquer, a resin from the lacquer tree.

Lacquer Paintings

While lacquerware has Chinese roots, lacquer paintings are a uniquely Vietnamese art form. Lacquer entered paintings after the French established the Ecole des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (Vietnam University of Fine Arts) in 1925. The founders recognized the aesthetics of Vietnamese artistic traditions and encouraged students to embrace their heritage alongside the Western painting teachings. This genre underwent a major transformation in the 1930s.

Vietnamese lacquer paintings are distinctive in that, thanks to the intricate process used to create them, their beauty endures for years. These days, it's simple to buy lacquer paintings in popular tourist destinations and well-known galleries in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Their prices range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the quality. Cong Quoc Ha is one of Vietnam's best lacquer painters and a well-known figure among contemporary artists.

Silk Paintings

Vietnam's silk paintings are distinct from those of China and Japan due to its softness, elegance, transparency of colors, and fluidity of style. The painting's background is directly applied on a silk canvas in accordance with traditional design. Typically, subjects like landscapes, pagodas, rural life, rough countrysides, or historical events are shown. The silk background and the lovely blending of soft hues produce a stunning result. To utilize silk's inherent beauty and gloss, artists must have perfect mastery of the material. Many Vietnamese art galleries and gift shops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City sell silk paintings. The cost varies according to the painter's quality, aesthetic appeal, and talent.

Lanterns in Hoi An

Hoi An, a little town in central Vietnam that is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site, is charming and attractive, and it is filled with many lanterns. The Ancient Town's streets are painted with vibrant hues during the day, but at night, when thousands of lanterns reflect their light onto the adjacent river, the area is truly stunning.

Due to their aesthetic appeal, resistance to water damage, and ease of maintenance, silk and brocade lanterns continue to be quite popular even now. The cost of the lanterns in Hoi An varies depending on the size, color, and fabric quality, and they are now created with various materials. They are a terrific purchase because they are simple to pack up and transport in a luggage.

Hand Embroidery

Vietnamese culture has been infused with the craft of hand embroidery for more than 700 years. The method, which is still practiced today by local craftspeople, artists, and members of ethnic minorities, is frequently taught to high school females as an extracurricular activity. The embroidery, which is used to make a variety of ornamental items like pillowcases, tablecloths, and even silk embroidered paintings, is distinguished by the employment of tiny threads to produce thin lines in a harmonious combination of brilliant colors. The main subjects portrayed are flowers, animals, landscapes, and religious situations.

Ceramics and Pottery

Vietnamese pottery production has a long history and reached its zenith during the Ly Dynasty's control (1010-1225). Following the Chinese invasion, China had a significant impact on Vietnamese ceramic artists, who also drew inspiration from other cultures like India and Cambodia. Even yet, the Vietnamese ceramics have a very distinct look, and they are thought to be among the best and most popular in the world.

Purchasing some gorgeous ceramics, whether it be bowls with floral patterns, elegant plates and vases, tea sets, or other home décor accents (both porcelain and pottery). is essential to do when in Vietnam. The Bat Trang Ceramic Village, renowned for producing fine ceramicware since the 15th Century, is the perfect location to gain a glimpse of the nation's rich ceramic art form. Reaching Out is a sweet shop in Hoi An's Ancient Town that offers a variety of delicate and lovely porcelain goods.

Contemporary Art

One cannot help but notice the vibrant diversity of the contemporary art scene while visiting Vietnam. Paintings by Vietnamese artists will undoubtedly pique the curiosity of art aficionados, whether they are dramatic landscapes, fascinating abstracts, exquisite figuratives, or edgy modern works!

Vietnamese artists' works have been exhibited in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and other places in recent decades, reflecting the country's growing worldwide interest in its art scene. The Gang of Five, which consists of the painters Pham Quang Vinh, Dang Xuan Hoa, Tran Luong, Hong Viet Dung, and Ha Tri Hieu, was one of the first groups of Vietnamese artists to gain international attention in the 1990s. Smaller tourist-oriented businesses offering art at incredibly low prices are now found everywhere.