Three artists, Lola Lely and Rocio Chacon (from the UK), and Yesenia Thibault-Picazo (French) are currently collaborating with the APD Center for Art Patronage and Development to organize a series of creative workshops for handmade products. These workshops encompass traditional fiber weaving techniques and provide guidance to young participants in Hanoi to experience making rope using the techniques of the Mong ethnic group in Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province.
Three artists, Lola Lely and Rocio Chacon (from the UK), and Yesenia Thibault-Picazo (French) are currently collaborating with the APD Center for Art Patronage and Development to organize a series of creative workshops for handmade products. These workshops encompass traditional fiber weaving techniques and provide guidance to young participants in Hanoi to experience making rope using the techniques of the Mong ethnic group in Pa Co commune, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province.
Workshop participants helped by the three artists.
The artists have come to Vietnam as part of a cultural cooperation program on sustainable fashion between Vietnam and the United Kingdom. The theme of the workshop series that these three artists are conducting is called "Cross Encounters/Joining Threads" within a collaborative project that connects various cultures through handicrafts and indigenous materials.
The artists have ventured into the northern mountainous regions to explore the handcrafted materials that the Vietnamese ethnic groups are producing, such as turning grass into thread and thread into rope. With the intention of spreading the beauty and applications of Vietnamese handcrafted products on the international stage, these three artists have organized a series of workshops to tell stories about the essence of Vietnamese handcrafted materials.
The creative space at the APD Center for Art Patronage and Development, located in Hanoi at No.1 Luong Yen, has been transformed into a captivating place using thread crafted by the Mong. Through activities focused on sharing, experiencing, and diverse creativity, participants, especially young students studying visual arts and performance, get to explore new artistic methods. This initiative helps them discover the connection between tangible handicrafts and artistic creation, revealing unique perspectives and stories.
During the "From grass to threads" workshop, artists guide students in creating rope using a variety of techniques that combine traditional and innovative thread weaving tools. The results from this workshop are also incorporated into subsequent practical sessions with themes like "Narrating with Materials" and "Exploring Materiality through Physicality - Performance in Craftsmanship".
Those who take part in the "Storytelling with Vietnamese Materials" workshop are provided with handcrafted materials such as wax, fabric, thread, and natural fibers to create their own arrangement in a self-selected personal space. Each person then shares their creativity, the relationships between the elements in their arrangement, as well as the ideas, meanings, or stories behind it.
Yesenia Thibault-Picazo is a French musician and designer, while Rocio Chacon is a visual artist. All three artists share a common passion for developing Vietnamese handcrafted products and sharing them with the community. Lola Lely said: "We continue to pursue 'Storytelling with Vietnamese Materials,' creating handcrafted products that embody the most vibrant essence of Vietnam"./.
| Lola Lely was born in Hanoi and grew up in London. Lola Lely and Yesenia Thibault-Picazo established Wax Atelier in London, in 1997, creating Vietnamese handcrafted products with the aim of spreading them vigorously in the UK through opening stores and participating in international fairs and workshops. |
A participant talks about his work during the workshop.
Story: Bich Van Photos: Viet Cuong/VNP Translated by Hong Hanh