(VOVWORLD) - Women of the Mong and Dao Tien ethnic minorities boast the traditional art of using beeswax to create sophisticated patterns on their costumes. They are seeking sustainable ways to develop their unique craft.
 People attend the "Beeswax-Indigo" event organized by the Vietnamese Women's Museum. (photo: VOV) |
The Dao Tien have practiced beeswax painting for a long time. Naturally they are careful to protect beehives, the source of the beeswax.
Artisan Ban Thi Lien of Cao Bang province,said: “My village has a bee cave, where the villagers have protected many beehives and collected beeswax for painting for generations. We prepare the fabric, heat the beeswax, and use special bamboo pens to draw shapes such as quadrangles and flowers on the fabric. Then we dye the fabric with indigo. When it’s dry, we use it to make dresses.”
The Mong women manually spin linen thread, weave the fabric, draw on it with beeswax, dye the fabric with indigo, and then embroider it. When drawing, they must keep the wax flowing evenly. After drawing, they put the fabric in boiling water and stir well so that the beeswax peels off, leaving beautiful patterns on the fabric. Then they dye the fabric with indigo and dry it in the sun before using it to make clothes.
Sung Y Thanh of Hoa Binh province said: “The Mong use bronze pens, which helps keep the beeswax warm while drawing. We draw each detail one at a time and have to maintain the heat of the beeswax and the pen until the drawing is finished.”
 Sung Y Thanh, an artisan from Hoa Binh province and her daughter demonstrate beeswax painting. (Photo: VOV) |
At a "Beeswax-Indigo" event organized by the Vietnamese Women's Museum early this month, participants watched Mong and Dao Tien artisans demonstrate wax painting and were given a hands-on opportunity to make their own product.
Some of them shared their feeling. "I love ethnic culture. I’m passionate about the decorative patterns of the Mong and other ethnic groups. I hope they will all preserve their cultural identity.”
"The beeswax and indigo exhibition of the Mong and Dao is impressive. I can see that drawing with beeswax is a meticulous job. They draw designs of great imagination.”
The Mong and Dao Tien people have established cooperatives and craft villages to produce handicraft products and collaborate with businesses to sell the products.
Cao Tuan Ninh, Chairman of the Community of Vietnam’s 54 Ethnic Groups, said: “We have collaborated and established a community of Vietnamese ethnic groups through which we can help each other sell our products at a better price to a larger market.”
Artisan Sam Thi Tinh said: “I’m an ethnic woman so I understand what we need. I hope the government and organizations will continue to help ethnic minorities maintain and develop their culture.”
In addition to preserving the art of beeswax painting, the authorities and the Mong and Dao Tien people have collaborated with businesses to market the products and boost local incomes.