A mother and child are excited visiting the exhibition at the Temple of Literature. Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

HÀ NỘI Stories about the tradition of Mid-Autumn Festival are lively recreated through the language of art at a special exhibition being held in Văn Miếu (the Temple of Literature) in central Hà Nội.

The exhibition which will run until September 17, is part of an artistic and traditional craft project themed "Star and Moon Light Convergence" with the aim to honour traditional Vietnamese culture.

Visitors to the Temple of Literature -- the famous national historial and cultural heritage site -- have a chance to admire the works inspired by stars, the moon, sky and human life by night during the full moon day of the annual Mid-Autumn festival on the middle of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, which falls on September 17 this year.

The project is initiated and organised by passionate and creative young artists from several art groups including the Dragon Sigma, Bookie Hanoi, Mini Wood Design, and Đoàn Thái Cúc Hương Arts & Crafts.

The name of the project not only evokes the sparkling beauty of the stars, but also the blending of their brilliant light with the moon during a lunar eclipse, creating a rare mythical scene, according to the organisers.

Meanwhile, the exhibition is not only a common art event, but also a multi-sensory journey of experience, where traditional and contemporary values ​​meet, resonate and shine, they said.

Painter and visual artist Phạm Khắc Thắng with his newly completed lacquer painting featuring the Mid-Autumn Festival. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

In addition to admiring the artworks inspired by the stars and symbols of Mid-Autumn culture, visitors can also directly participate in traditional craft activities, including making star lanterns, drawing masks of joy, anger, love and hatred, creating lacquer paintings, making moon cakes, and creating star-moon trees.

Phạm Khắc Thắng, a painter and visual artist was extremely moved when recalling the Mid-Autumn Festival memories of his childhood.

"Born and raised in the capital city of Hà Nội, whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival comes, it's time to hold full-moon parties. That is the image I always enjoy the most since it is full of colour and joyful with the laughter of children," Thắng who is also a member of the event's organising board, said.

Wishing to preserve those sparkling and vibrant images, Thắng has transformed some of his works from simple coloured powder to lacquer, using a variety of materials such as oyster and abalone shells, with mother-of-pearl or bright patches to create sparkling lights during the full-moon night. He has also made flickering candlelight radiate from lanterns painted in gold, silver and tin.

"The Star and Moon Light Convergence" project has breathed life into the spiritual space of the Temple of Literature, making it even more poetic and magical.

Visitors enjoy making arts and crafts at the exhibition. — Photo toquoc.vn

It is like a bridge connecting the past and the present, offering visitors a Mid-Autumn Festival to relive beautiful memories, at the same time spreading the message of preserving and developing traditional culture in the new era, according to the organisers.

The Full-Moon Festival also called Mid-Autumn Festival in Viêt Nam is an important cultural event for the both children and adults. It takes place on the full-moon night of the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. At this time, it is believed that the moon shines the brightest during the whole year.

Different types of star lanterns are displayed at the exhibition. — Photo toquoc.vn

When the moon is coming to fullness, it is a special time across the country, with everyone busy, particularly the children.

During the celebration, parents prepare moon cakes, candies and fruits, such as grapefruit, red persimmon, longan, banana and mango. All of them are designed with fun symbols such as dog, cat and mouse.

Children wear masks, beat drums and perform fantastic lion dances, sing folk songs in the garden or in the streets and hold a procession with lanterns when the moon is rising. VNS