Bamboo Paper Art Workshop
Truc Chi Graphy Origin
Artist Phan Hai Bang is a lecturer at the University of Arts, Hue. With a deep desire to create a unique art form that truly embodies the spirit of Hue — from its motifs to its materials and creative process — he embarked on a journey of exploration and experimentation. Out of this quest was born Trúc Chỉ Art, a distinctive form of paper-based artistry that blends craftsmanship, natural materials, and philosophical depth.
Visit Truc Chi workshop, chat with the artist to understand more about the art works process, promotion and exhibitions. Try creating your own Truc Chi drawing and take it home as a souvenir.
Source: Google Arts & Culture – Trúc Chỉ Art, Hue, Vietnam
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NOTES
- Availability: Morning, Afternoon
- Suggested time: 08:30, 13:30
- Duration: 4 hours
How Truc Chi Art is made
Trúc Chỉ is a living artwork created entirely from nature. Using materials derived from plants and natural fibers, such as bamboo, rattan, and various types of local grasses, artist Phan Hai Bang developed a process inspired by traditional handmade papermaking. The raw fibers are cleaned, soaked in limewater, softened, ground into pulp, and then cooked to form a smooth, pliable paper base. This pulp is then mixed into a large basin of water, and with a wooden frame, a thin sheet of paper is carefully formed — a delicate canvas awaiting transformation.
While the paper is still wet, the artist begins to shape patterns and images directly onto the surface. Using a stream of water as his brush, he delicately removes layers of pulp with varying pressure. This unique “water-pressure carving” technique reveals subtle differences in texture and transparency — creating a rich interplay of light and shadow when the finished piece is illuminated. In this way, the water jet becomes the artist’s pen, and the paper itself becomes both medium and message.
Each Trúc Chỉ artwork captures the essence of nature and the rhythm of the artist’s soul. The fibers, depending on their origin and structure, produce varying thicknesses, tones, and textures — from soft, translucent layers to bold, deeply embossed lines. Through this harmonious balance of material and technique, every piece reflects the artist’s imagination and emotional depth, making Trúc Chỉ not just an art form, but a meditation on the relationship between humanity and nature.
If the principle of metal etching is to use chemicals to remove layers of metal, creating a tonal system when printed, then Trúc Chỉ graphics uses water pressure to peel away layers of paper pulp to create varying thicknesses, corresponding to the tonal system for Trúc Chỉ artworks when interacting with light.
Today, Trúc Chỉ is recognized as a contemporary cultural symbol of Hue, representing the city’s refined aesthetics, environmental consciousness, and timeless creative spirit.
