Poonah-paper lanterns and other handicraft items (Photo: Thuy Tien)

Six Hang Trong folk paintings depicting Vietnamese folk games like dragons and snakes soaring among the clouds, a dragon procession, a tug of war, and blindfold games, were selected to be printed on the poonah paper used to make the lanterns. Workshop participants were shown how to color pre-printed line drawings or line drawings they drew themself.

Nguyen Thi Huu, founder of the “Magic of Color” project, said: “We chose lantern-making for our workshop on this Autumn Festival. The “Memory Color” program takes people back to their childhood. We chose some Hang Trong paintings of Vietnamese folk games to display on the lanterns.”

Children draw on poonah-paper lanterns. (Photo: Thuy Tien)

Artisan Le Dinh Nghien said: “We put Dong Ho folk paintings and other folk images on the lanterns. These images have been used to create gemstone paintings and ceramics. I think these folk images and crafts are unique and shouldn’t be confused with other art forms.”

Mixing the colors is the hardest part but also the most enjoyable part for the participants. Thuy Dung said: “I like hearing the artisans tell stories and facts about Vietnam’s folk painting genres. I hope more workshops like this will be held so young people will have more opportunities to study folk culture and arts.”

The “Magic of Color” workshop to make poonah-paper lanterns will be held every Sunday from now until September 15 at the Area 75 Art Center.