Dragon-themed spring festival celebrates Lunar New Year

HÀ NỘI Ceramic sculptures depicting different postures of dragon – one of the four sacred animals in Vietnamese culture, are on display at an on-going exhibition in Hà Nội.

Entitled Vũ Điệu Bách Long (The Dance of a Hundred Dragons), the exhibition presents 100 artworks created by the Hải Phòng-based artist Phạm Văn Tuyên to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Dragon.

Visitors enjoy a ceramic sculpture at the exhibition ‘Vũ Điệu Bách Long’ (The Dance of a Hundred Dragons) of the Hải Phòng-based artist Phạm Văn Tuyên. — VNA/VNS Photos Thanh Tùng

The exhibition is part of the Giáp Thìn Spring Festival 2024 taking place at the Việt Nam Cultural and Art Exhibition Centre in Hà Nội.

Visitors can enjoy dragon sculptures in various unique vases. In addition, the Rồng Hóa section (Dragon Transformation) showcases the dragon’s different postures that represent four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter, and associated with four types of trees – pine, chrysanthemum, bamboo and apricot.

Finally, dragon sculptures that express the desire for peace and wishes for good luck and prosperity during the up-coming Year of the Dragon are also included.

Each of the 100 sculptures is a unique creation, expressing the eminence yet mystique of the sacred animal. Presenting the exquisite creativity of the artist, these artworks are integrated into functional objects such as flower vases, lamp stands and incense burners.

As part of the Giáp Thìn Spring Festival 2024, visitors also have the chance to contemplate a unique collection of dragon paintings created by artist Hoàng Trúc on areca spathe. The collection has been recognised by the Việt Nam Record Organisation as the country’s largest collection of dragon paintings on areca spathe.

Painter Nghiêm Diệp Anh also has introduced 40 powder colour paintings at her exhibition Dragons and Flowers. The image of the traditional dragon has been represented in her contemporary paintings, expressing freshness and modernity.

The ‘Giáp Thìn Spring Festival 2024’ also displays paintings by Nghiêm Diệp Anh and Hoàng Trúc.

Especially, a collection of 20 Vietnamese royal costumes with richly embroidered dragon patterns also are on display. A result of a hardworking research of the Vạn Thiên Y Company, the collection reveals the similarities and differences of the costumes in general and of the dragon in particular under the Lý, Trần and Nguyễn dynasties.

Artisans from famous pottery villages in the North such as Hương Canh in Vĩnh Phúc Province, Giang Cao in Hà Nội, and Chu Đậu in Hải Dương Province, also showcase their products associated with the dragon at the Spring Festival.

During the festival, alongside artworks on the theme of dragon, visitors can also enjoy special art performances.

The Giáp Thìn Spring Festival 2024 is open until February 1 at the Việt Nam Cultural and Art Exhibition Centre, 2 Hoa Lư Street, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội. VNS