HÀ NỘI — Stories and portraits of respected founding masters, craftsmen and intellectuals are told at the ongoing Patron Saints and Eminent Scholars of Việt Nam exhibition at the Temple of Literature heritage site in Hà Nội.

This is the first-ever exhibition to address the role of scholars as founders of various trades and crafts.

It is part of the lead-up to the 950th anniversary of the founding of the Temple of Literature in 1076 and one of a series of activities for the 16-day Hà Nội Creative Design Festival, which begins today.

Throughout history, many talented individuals have made significant contributions to education across the nation. Beyond their academic and official careers, they also played a role in spreading knowledge and advancing traditional crafts – achievements for which they have been honoured by subsequent generations as the founders or patron saints of those respective trades.

They are credited with creating a dynamic bridge between historical heritage and contemporary creativity.

In his remarks at the exhibition, Nguyễn Văn Tú, deputy director of the Temple of Literature's Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities, said that Việt Nam’s traditional, 950-year-old examination-based education system has cultivated thousands of brilliant minds who dedicated themselves to serving the nation.

Many of these scholars helped disseminate knowledge and develop traditional crafts, earning them the reverence of the people as the founders of these trades.

The exhibition presents the stories of eight scholars whose names are inscribed on the stelae at the Temple of Literature and who were honoured as the patron saints of traditional crafts. Also on the list is the notable figure Đặng Huy Trứ, who laid the foundations for the profession of photography in Việt Nam. 

Spanning nine distinct zones, the exhibition brings historical accounts to life through a direct dialogue with contemporary artisanal craftsmanship. Rather than relying on conventional biographies, the narratives unfold via expressive mediums like woodcarving, lacquerware and embroidery.

Visitors first learn about scholar Lương Như Hộc, the patron saint of woodblock printing.

Artisan Công Đạt and painters Trần Công Dũng, Phạm Khắc Quang and Phạm Hùng Anh serve as storytellers who not only share information about the scholar, but also demonstrate the craft to the public with skilful techniques.

The sedge mat weaving craft is associated with scholar Phạm Đôn Lễ. The story of the patron saint and his craft are recounted in an installation by artist Vũ Xuân Đông, with the participation of artisans from Nga Sơn Village in Thanh Hóa Province, who showcase their masterful skills in the exhibition space.

Scholar Trần Lư is honoured with traditional sơn ta (traditional lacquer) techniques, which are valued for their durability, colour retention and lasting lustre.

Featuring sơn ta creations and diverse lacquer applications, artist Trương Hoàng Hải, Phạm Ngọc Hòa’s HD team and fellow artisans prove that traditional materials can be reimagined in modern ways.

The ancient oil-pressing craft is linked to scholar Nguyễn Quang Tán, with stories presented through works by sculptors Thái Nhật Minh and Đinh Văn Trọng.

Other crafts, such as gauze weaving by scholar Phùng Khắc Khoan, leather tanning by Nguyễn Thời Trung, tin plating by Nguyễn Chính and embroidery by Lê Công Hành, are also on display at the exhibition through many creative forms, combining traditional craftsmanship, materials and modern artistic language.

There is also a corner for Đặng Huy Trứ, a prominent Nguyễn Dynasty scholar, reformist official and patriot. He is widely honoured as the founder of Vietnamese photography, as in 1869 he opened Việt Nam’s first locally owned photography studio in Hà Nội, successfully introducing Western photographic technology to the country despite strong social scepticism.

In his space, the history of photography is presented through works by artist Nguyễn Thế Sơn, photographer Phạm Duy and students of Việt Nam National University Hà Nội.

In addition, the mica-engraved stelae systems created by artist Trần Hậu Yên Thế throughout the exhibition space have formed a creative link between traditional stone stelae imagery and modern visual language. 

Curator Nguyễn Thế Sơn said that the exhibition not only honours the nation's tradition of studiousness, respect for knowledge and creativity, but also defines heritage as a living source of knowledge, where traditional cultural values continue to flourish, strongly inspiring the community and contemporary urban development.

It is structured as a dialogue between historical documents, traditional crafts and contemporary art practices. Heritage stories are retold through documents and artefacts and conveyed through various forms of expression, such as woodblock prints, lacquerware, embroidery, textiles, sculpture, photography and installations.

With the participation of numerous artists and craftspeople, the exhibition introduces famous figures and traditional crafts while also suggesting an approach to heritage as a living source of knowledge that will continue to spread in contemporary life.

The exhibition will be open until December 5 at 58 Quốc Tử Giám Street, Văn Miếu Ward, Hà Nội. — VNS