The 'living treasure' of Thanh Tien paper flower village has turned into an 'impermanent flower'

Paper flower artist Thanh Tien Than Van Huy has "turned into an impermanent flower" - Photo: GDCC

On March 12, the family of artisan Than Van Huy confirmed that the son of Thanh Tien paper flower village had passed away at the age of 76.

Mr. Huy is considered a "living treasure" of Thanh Tien paper flower village for his contribution in reviving the village's traditional paper flower making craft, which was on the brink of extinction.

Around the early 2000s, this traditional paper flower village had only a few flower makers, hanging around with a few old chrysanthemum and sunflower models to offer on the altar.

Thanh Tien paper flower craft is in danger of being lost.

As a son of the bougainvillea village, Mr. Than Van Huy (now a painter) was worried that the colorful bougainvillea flowers of the village during Tet would no longer appear at the spring markets.

Mr. Huy decided to return to the village.

Artisan Than Van Huy - Photo: FBNV

Through the delicate eyes of an artist, Mr. Huy researched and revived the method of making paper lotus flowers that his grandfather had made decades ago and had long been lost.

Mr. Huy's lotus flowers have a pure, innocent, perfect and sparkling beauty that is well received by the market and appears in luxury hotels in Hue .

Mr. Huy passed on the lotus flower making craft to the young generation of Thanh Tien village, turning the village nestled on the Huong River into an interesting tourist destination on the Hue tourist map.

The Vietnam Book of Records Center also confirmed that Mr. Than Van Huy was the first person to successfully recreate a paper lotus flower in 2010.

Mr. Huy was also recognized by the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province as an artisan for his paper lotus craft in 2012.

Paper lotus flowers by artisan Than Van Huy

Writing on his personal Facebook page, Mr. Phan Thien Dinh - Secretary of the Hue City Party Committee - said: Once, in a conversation, he asked Mr. Than Van Huy: Do you have any concerns about your job? He smiled humorously: It's a pity that the flowers I make are so good, they take a long time to spoil so I can't sell more.

That's true, it's a pity I couldn't buy more flowers from you because there was no more room. The petals were so beautiful, there was soul in every fold and curve...

Today you have gone far away, transformed into "an impermanent flower". There is something so nostalgic".

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bau-vat-song-cua-lang-hoa-giay-thanh-tien-da-hoa-doa-hoa-vo-thuong-20240312095152131.htm