One of the activities at the 2014 Hue Festival is an exhibition entitled “Linh Hon Dan Toc” (The Soul of the Nation) which is taking place at 20 Ly Tu Trong Street in Hue from 10 - 20 April.

This first-of-its-kind exhibition is drawing a great deal of attention from both locals and visitors because it showcases about 100 hand-made coconut shell paintings which are adapted from oil pictures by the 31-year-old painter Vo Quy Quoc.  The works feature various subjects, including Dong Ho folk paintings, as well as portraits of the late President Ho Chi Minh, the late General Vo Nguyen Giap, and the late musician Trinh Cong Son.

31-year-old painter Vo Quy Quoc …

Quoc said that all the coconut shells used for the paintings were bought from Ben Tre Province.  After cleaning the shells, he rubbed them and broke them into small pieces before making the paintings.  Normally, it takes only about a day to finish one coconut shell picture, but sometimes it can take up to 4. 

… and a coconut shell painting of the late General Vo Nguyen Giap

Vo Quy Quoc studied at Hue Art University’s Oil Painting Faculty for 2 years.  After that, he pursued his dreams of making coconut-shell paintings.  To date, he has adapted over 1,000 coconut shell paintings from oil pictures.  The young painter said that he has a strong passion for the coconut shell work.  Even though coconut shell handicrafts have become a familiar trademark, Quoc has nurtured a dream to help the coconut shell material to be actually recognised as an art material the same as lacquer.