Behind The Mask exhibition invites audience to look beyond the colours and strokes to find other distinctive aspects of the long-established performing art of Tuong (Courtesy photo of Lune Production) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - An art exhibition at the Vietnam Tuong Theatrein Hanoi offers art lovers and tourists a chance to learn about the art of tuong,or classical drama.
Titled “Behind the Mask”, the exhibition also aims to raise local people’sawareness of and introduce foreign tourists to this unique traditional artform, a Vietnamese cultural gem that is gradually losing popularity in modernsociety.
Though the facial make-up may be the most characteristic and outstandingfeature of tuong, it is not everything. Behind the Mask invites audiences tolook beyond the colours and strokes to find other distinctive aspects of thislong-established performing art.
With a history of around 800 years, tuong has steadily developed and enhancedits various aspects from make-up and costume to music.
The Vietnam Tuong Theatre has been making significant contributions topreserving and developing this traditional art form. With the aim of offeringvisitors the chance to learn about this art form, the exhibition is dividedinto four sections.
The ‘History Room’ on the ground floor provides a brief introduction to thelong history of tuong.
Alongside images of the art form’s founding figures, the venue also showcasessome ancient tuong scripts written in Nom (an ancient Vietnamese ideographicscript).
The significant role of the Vietnam Tuong Theatre in the preservation of theart genre has been recognised by the State with the Labour Order, first class,and the Independence Order, first class.
The theatre has also won several awards at national drama festivals includinggold medals at the 2019 National Festival of Tuong and Folk Songs and 2012Festival of Vietnamese Nationalities’ Traditional Music Instruments, and the APrize at the 1996 Theatre Awards from the Vietnam Association of TheatreArtists.
Right opposite the ‘History Room’ is a set of four collages by tuong painterNguyen Hoang Phong.
Using traditional materials like do (poonah) paper and bamboo blinds andshades, the collages depict patterns inspired by tuồng masks as well asgeometric motifs from the bronze drums of the Bronze Age Dong Son Culture inancient Vietnam.
The make-up section showcases more than 30 hand-drawn masks portraying variouscharacters in classical tuong plays such as Trieu Khuong Dan in the play Nu TuongDao Tam Xuan (Female General Dao Tam Xuan), and Khuong Linh Ta in Son Hau. Herethe tour guide will reveal certain unique tuong make-up techniques you may nothave known before.
On the way to the upper floor, where the exhibition continues, visitors can seeblack-and-white photos depicting scenes from famous tuong plays performed byartists from the Vietnam Tuong Theatre.
The upper floor has a display of performing costumes and musical instruments.
Costumes from the folk play Ngheu So Oc Hen and the classical play Nu Tuong DaoTam Xuan are placed opposite each other, allowing the audience to compare thedifferences between the two main genres of tuong.
The juxtaposed section showcases musical instruments such as drum, clarinet, nhi(bowed two-string instrument), dan bau (monochord), and dan tranh (16-stringzither), all commonly used in contemporary tuong performances.
Also on this floor is a large altar to tuong ancestors where, before everyperformance, artists offer incense sticks to pray for a successful show.
Behind the Mask, the first permanent exhibition of its kind, is part of aseries of activities celebrating the Vietnam Tuong Theatre's 60th anniversary.
The exhibition at 51A Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem district, is open from 9amto 6pm every day, and entry is free. Free tours with guides are alsoavailable./.
VNA