LỜI CA CỔ TRUYỀN (Traditional Melodies)

Artist Statement:

Among the Vietnamese people, “Chèo”, “Đờn ca tài tử” and “Hát Bội" are three of the most well-known and popular performance arts. According to UNESCO, these three types of folk singing are part of the intangible cultural heritage of Viet Nam. 

It is impossible for these types of art to last forever if there is no one to preserve them and continue to develop them. This is also the problem we are facing today, as a result of globalisation and the introduction of multiculturalism into Vietnam. Young generations are increasingly forgetting and seem to care less about traditional cultural art forms.  

Lời Ca Cổ Truyền is a project centred around a hero artwork that can be divided into three separate illustrations; Mask of Glory (left), Laughter Beneath the Moon (right), and Strings of  Southern Soul (middle). This piece pays tribute to Vietnam’s diverse traditional performance arts—hát bội (Vietnamese opera), hát chèo (folk comedic theatre), and đờn ca  tài tử (Southern chamber music). Through vibrant colours, expressive characters, and  symbolic settings, I seek to honour the spirit, storytelling, and emotional depth of these cultural treasures. 

The work reflects my pride in Vietnamese heritage and my desire to preserve and share these timeless melodies and performances with new generations.