THỪA THIÊN- HUẾ — Inventors of trúc chỉ, an artistic medium in which the artist’s designs are printed onto a special form of paper, are organising camps for artists and students in Huế.

At the camps, artists and students get the chance to learn the concepts and techniques of trúc chỉ paper making and to create their own art works.

Artist Phan Hải Bằng, who is a lecturer at Huế University of Arts and invented the trúc chỉ process, said the biggest aim of trúc chỉ artists “is to make the paper a symbolic type of paper for Việt Nam, just like washi in Japan and hanji in South Korea.”

Bằng said the camps in Huế are part of a long-term plan to make the paper popular among domestic artists and art institutions around the country.

One camp is being held in the Trúc Chỉ Workshop located behind the former Imperial Palace in Huế, accommodating artists who are already established in their careers. Another camp is organised for art and architecture students at the Huế University of Arts.

Architecture students are included as the paper suits architectural needs. It can serve as a new material for walls and as luxurious home decoration items, according to Ngô Đình Bảo Vi, head of the Trúc Chỉ Workshop.

Master: Painter Trần Thanh Phong works on his trúc chỉ artwork. — VNS Photo Phước Bửu

At the camps, which began on Sunday, artists are creating work with the paper. An exhibition will be held on December 25th in the city for showcasing the work. At the camps, the organisers have prepared pulps of different plants, including bamboo, paper mulberry and banana trees, and the necessary tools for the artists to create.

Veteran painter Công Tằng Tôn Nữ Tuyết Mai, who is a retired painting lecturer at Huế University of Arts and a camp attendee, said the paper is fascinating her. “With my ling career, I had chance to work on different materials, from silk, stone and bronze to pottery. I find this [type of paper] is easy to access and work on,” she said.

Artist Bằng initiated the making of trúc chỉ paper while he was studying in Thailand. The making of trúc chỉ uses pulp of bamboo or other plants and techniques that resembled the initial steps of making the Vietnamese paper dó.

Later, the artists spray to create graphic patterns on the sheet and dry it to complete the art work. The paper has become the raw material for many other artistic and daily-use products, like lanterns, wallets, candle boxes, handbags, wall paintings and table calendars.

Visitors are all welcome to visit the camp at No 5 Thạch Hãn Street for free. There, they can talk to the inventor, view the artwork and create their own products to bring home. — VNS