Whisper from the lotus

After visiting the entire complex on the boat trip along the Laguna Lang Co canal, we decided to stop at Banyan Tree Lang Co - a place that caught the eyes of both me and my companion. Right from the first steps leading to the reception area, a huge lotus sculpture meticulously made from green copper captivated people. The reception area is designed like an ancient 4-room house embracing the skylight. The skylight is located in a spacious lotus pond. Stepping to the other side, you can fully admire the crescent-shaped bay of Lang Co.

Laguna Lang Co is inspired by the artistic heritage of ancient Vietnamese royal dynasties, most notably the lotus-shaped lacquered works arranged in mountain villas with expansive views of Canh Duong sea. Lacquer is one of the classic Vietnamese fine art materials. Initially, lacquer appeared from mother-of-pearl inlaid trays, silver-inlaid clogs, parallel sentences and other royal objects. Later, it gradually became a means of expressing Vietnamese culture as well as the soul of the artist. Vietnamese lacquer paintings have a big difference from lacquered handicrafts of other Asian countries thanks to the early painters of the Indochina College of Fine Arts in the early 1930s. They explored other materials such as eggshells, snail shells... combined with lacquer, silver, gold, mother-of-pearl... and brought the lacquering technique to a new level. The painting can be painted and sanded many times before the image can be seen, because for the paint to dry, the painting must be kept in an airtight and humid cabinet, and to see the image in the painting, the paint must be sanded away.

Lacquer paintings of lotus in the rooms here always have something strangely attractive. Perhaps, partly because the lotus has a special meaning, is the national soul of Vietnamese culture, partly because the lotus is expressed through such a very Vietnamese material. Drawing lotus is not easy, if you do not observe carefully, you will make small mistakes, like drawing lotus veins... Because lotus veins only begin to separate when getting closer to the outside of the leaf, not immediately separating from the center. The person painting lotus also needs to understand the meaning of lotus colors to express what he wants: white lotus represents purity, peace of mind; red lotus represents love and compassion; purple lotus is the Buddha's teachings on awakening; blue lotus is wisdom and knowledge; and pink lotus symbolizes love, the great compassion lotus of Bodhisattva. Drawing a lotus is like recreating a human life, still quietly growing strong, simple "close to the mud but not smelling of the mud".

Looking at the meticulously created lacquer paintings, listening to the whispers from the simple lotus flowers, anyone who comes here can feel the gentle atmosphere of heaven and earth, the peaceful beauty of enjoying the present, as calm as the verses of Lan Tu Vien:

“When people are young

A simple young man - a bit selfish

Just enough work to live on

Someone to love

And little weekend trips

When we were young

How innocent life is

Sadness is also lovely

Of course, looking back later"

Excerpt from "When One Is Young" - Lan Tu Vien

For more information about Laguna Lang Co and Banyan Tree Lang Co, please visit www.lagunalangco.com

Phan Cac Truc