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Every autumn, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, memories of Mid-Autumn Festival nights of the past suddenly flood back: the shimmering light from the lanterns hanging on the porch, the lively sound of lion dance drums, and children excitedly carrying lanterns under the light. It's not just a childhood game, but also a symbol of reunion, a thread connecting people across generations.
However, in recent years, traditional Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns have gradually been overshadowed by industrial products, flashing light bulbs, and brightly colored plastic. Convenient and inexpensive cellophane and battery-operated plastic lanterns have become widespread, but they lack the cultural soul. Amidst the myriad changes of the times, the "Lam" art exhibition organized by Doan Thai Cuc Huong has brought many young people back to their memories, reviving the beauty that was once an integral part of the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Lam" is not simply an exhibition, but an artistic journey aimed at reviving traditional Mid-Autumn Festival symbols. Each lantern in the exhibition is handcrafted from dó paper and bamboo – materials closely associated with Vietnamese life.
Instead of using conventional watercolors or industrial acrylics, the artist, Doan Thai Cuc Huong, chose earthy tones to embellish her products, creating rustic and enduring colors. Not stopping there, she also experimented with natural ingredients like eucalyptus oil, turmeric, and beetroot to expand the color palette, making each product unique and environmentally friendly. These natural, warm colors evoke a sense of simplicity and closeness. This choice preserves the authenticity of handcrafted art while also reflecting environmental protection – one of the important messages that "Lam" wants to convey.
Traditionally used for calligraphy, folk painting, and printing Buddhist scriptures, dó paper has now become the soul of Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns. Simple yet sophisticated, unpretentious yet durable, dó paper evokes a feeling that is both familiar and novel, stirring indescribable emotions in the viewer.
Notably, all the lantern designs in the exhibition are based on the traditional styles of her ancestors – designs that are now somewhat absent from modern life. Cúc Hương shared, "All the lantern designs in the exhibition are inspired by the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns that our ancestors used to make, designs that are not commonly produced anymore. I want to bring them back to show people how skillful and talented our forefathers were. And with my personal perspective, I want to create and convey a story through each product."
Lanterns shaped like carp, dragons, shrimp, butterflies, praying mantises, and more are both familiar and novel. They are not just children's games, but have become cultural symbols, embodying the spirit of a Mid-Autumn Festival full of unique character.
In the founder's view, beauty doesn't necessarily have to be dazzling or brilliant. Cúc Hương explained: "Not everything that's bright and sparkling is beautiful or eye-catching. Each person, each soul, will see different kinds of beauty in each product. The products I create are especially for adults – conveying a message to children in the form of adults."
This is why "Lam" becomes a unique space for dialogue: between the past and the present, between traditional crafts and modern aesthetic needs, between the childlike spirit and the experiences of adulthood.
The exhibition "Lam" will take place from September 6th to September 14th, 2025, at Ai Tra Art Space, 217A Truong Trinh Street, Hanoi, with free admission from 9 am to 5 pm daily.
Continuing its journey, "Lam" will be in Ho Chi Minh City from October 3rd to 12th, 2025, at the Quang San Art Museum, 189B/3 Nguyen Van Huong Street, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc District, open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. More than just an exhibition space, "Lam" will also be a cultural meeting point for residents and tourists from Hanoi and Saigon during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
At "Lam," each light emanating from the lantern not only illuminates the room but also lights up memories. It is the light of cultural heritage, the light of creativity, the light of enduring spirit. The exhibition not only brings a Mid-Autumn Festival rich in emotion but also opens up a new vision: how traditional art can continue to thrive in modern life, and how, every autumn, Mid-Autumn lanterns will continue to shine brightly in the memories of Vietnamese people.
