THỪA THIÊN- HUẾ — A collection of 132 works on trúc chỉ, an artistic handmade paper, is on show at a visual art exhibition in Huế.

Artist Phan Hải Bằng, who chairs the Việt Nam Trúc Chỉ Art Foundation, said the exhibition featured works by nine painters from the foundation and another 16 artists and students who created work at a camp held by the foundation this month.

Bằng said the exhibition was to introduce the new artistic paper and also a new artform to broader audiences. Four posters depicting Vietnamese old drama figures that won an American Graphic Design Award erlier this year are on display.

“Vietnamese are as skilful as any in the world,” said Bằng. “This exhibition is a good chance for people to learn about trucchigraphy, which stands for graphic works on paper.

Painter Bằng, who is a senior lecturer at Huế University of Arts, invented the trúc chỉ process, using pulp from bamboo, mulberry and banana plants, and hay. The technique resembles the initial steps of making the Vietnamese dó (poonah) paper.

Trúc chỉ art works and daily items first appeared in 2013 and have gained much applause from the art community and consumers.

At the opening ceremony on Monday, the foundation announced a contest for students at universities to create art works on the paper and send them to the foundation for judging.

The show, which is free, is at Imperial Art Gallery, 8 Hùng Vương Street, Huế City. It will stay open until January 5. — VNS