Thai Cultural Days in Vietnam kicked off

PANO – An exhibition on Thai Arts and Culture was kicked off on July 28^th at Vietnam Exhibition Center for Culture and Arts (Van Ho Exhibition Center), No. 2, Hoa Lu street, Hanoi. The exhibition will run through to August 1^st, featuring various activities.

The exhibition aims to showcase the fineness, creativity and diversity of Thai arts and culture, through the demonstrations of Thai handicrafts from the four regions of the country. These include the art of making Thai puppets, flower sachets, batik painting, fruit and vegetable carving, and banana leaf and fresh flower arrangements. Through fun and unique hands-on experience in the workshops, it is hoped that Thai handicrafts can become something to be enjoyed by anybody, where a better understanding of Thai arts and culture can also be gained in the process.

Thai puppets

The origin of Thai puppets, or hoon krabok, can be traced back to the reign of King Rama V, according to the text San Somdet (The Prince’s Correspondence) written by Prince Damrong. It is believed that the art of Thai puppet making was influenced by Chinese puppets from Hainan, with the first Thai puppets created by Mr. Neng in Sukhothai Province, Lower Northern Thailand, in 1892.

A Thai puppet on display at the exhibition

A Vietnamese girl learning how to decorate a puppet's head

The head of the puppet is usually made of light wood, such as cotton wood, and about 10-15 cm in diameter. Much attention is paid to the making and painting of the head as it is the part that will be visible to the audience during puppet shows. The head is then attached to a hallowed bamboo stick, about 3-5 centimeters in diameter and 50 centimeters long, making up the ‘body’ of the puppet, covered with a delicately embroidered cloth.

Flower sachets

Thai flower sachets, or bu-ngaa ram pai, mix different types of colorful local flowers, wrapped in transparent cloth, to give off unique and harmonious scents. Both fresh and dried flowers can be used, and essential oils are sometimes added to the bundles. These can be made quickly and easily, and used as decorations in the house, closets, cars, etc. to create a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere.

Preparing flowers for flower sachets

Batik painting

Batik textiles can be widely found in the southern provinces of Thailand, bordering Malaysia - an evidence of exchange with Javanese culture. The technique involves the careful dripping of hot wax onto the fabric, in patterns or areas where no paint will be applied, and the painting of usually bright colors onto the remaining areas. This process may be repeated as many times as it is required to paint all the colours. Thus, the more colorful the finished product is, the more complex it was to make, and the more valuable it is. Popular patterns or pictures include flowers, underwater world, such as fish and corals, as well as the local life of where the batik textiles were made.

Drawing patterns on cloth for Batik painting

Fruit and vegetable carving, and banana leaf and fresh flower arrangements

In Thailand, carved fruits and vegetables are used to add a beautiful finishing touch to Thai dishes in fine restaurants, and are also found as art pieces and table decorations in fancy events. Different fruits and vegetables require different carving techniques, depending on how firm or delicate they are. The trick is to use a sharp, fine point knife, and patience, as to prevent the fruit or vegetable from being bruised while carving.

Fruit and vegetable carving

Banana leaves and fresh flowers are also commonly used in Thailand for decorative arts. The significance of banana leaves is that they are large and flexible, and can be folded into different shapes and placed together to create interesting pieces. Banana leaf and fresh flower works are often used in Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies.