Exploring Vietnam's unique art of Embroidery and Lacquer, both crafts amazed me with their handmade intricate products, each worth a dollar when purchased.
The embroidery is crafted from silk sourced from larvae cocoons. With a tradition spanning over 700 years, they continue to excel in transforming this craft into modern art and fashion. Notably, one artwork features a portrait of a mother and child with real human hair used for their eyelids. Women proudly wear these traditional modern embroidered dresses, even in places like malls.
While Lacquer art products are common in the market, I learned about their production in a specific shop. There are three types of art materials used before lacquer is applied: painted, eggshell, and shell. A meticulous ten-step process is required to transform these materials into the recognizable lacquer products.
Although both embroidery and lacquer art can now be done by machines, in Vietnam, they are still handcrafted. Despite their commonality in my home country, delving into their origins has given me a newfound respect for these materials, akin to how I perceive a piece of work like the Mona Lisa.