(AG Provincial E-Portal) - An Giang's mountains and hills are home to the jaggery tree. An Giang. Locals have transformed it into a variety of visually appealing dishes. However, to meet the needs of tourists visiting the land of the Seven Mountains, locals also create jaggery as a meaningful gift. Jaggery is also created as a meaningful gift to meet the needs of tourists who come to the land of the Seven Mountains.
Jaggery leaf painting
When it comes to souvenirs made from jaggery in An Giang, the most renowned is likely the jaggery leaf painting created by the artisan Vo Van Tang in Nui Sap town, Thoai Son district. Despite his background in banking, he possesses a talent and passion for painting and is simultaneously apprehensive about the potential of a unique tree in An Giang. He spent time researching, experimenting, and producing paintings from jaggery leaves.
To create jaggery leaf paintings, artisans must undergo a series of rigorous stages. First, the artisans select the jaggery leaves based on their size, dry them in the sun, and then graft the leaf pieces together to create the painting's background. Subsequently, the artist employed an electric pen (fire pen) to apply paint to the painting's background. The motifs are composed of pen lines that have been meticulously emphasized. The painting will consist of four fundamental colors: white, yellow, brown, and black, upon its completion. The painting is subsequently framed and polished with a layer of oil to safeguard the leaves.
Up to now, Mr. Vo Van Tang has created thousands of paintings with different themes, designs, and sizes. Specifically, the majority of his paintings feature themes such as landscapes, flowers, and portraits. People both inside and outside the province love the works. Furthermore, the high durability and long storage time of jaggery leaf paintings contribute significantly to their popularity.
Decorative gifts from jaggery wood
9X boy Nguyen Vu Linh has utilized wood and jaggery leaves to produce stunning works of art, with the intention of enhancing the value of specialties in the Seven Mountains region and thereby assisting individuals in increasing their income.
Mr. Vu Linh's facility is located in the Thoi Son ward of Tinh Bien town. To replace materials that are less environmentally friendly, the primary products are handmade souvenirs made from jaggery, including wall clocks, night lamps, table lamps, desk calendars, nameplates, pen boxes, notebooks, souvenir trophies, commemorative chapters, logos, and keychains.
Specifically, he crafts laser-engraved paintings on jaggery wood. Currently, the painting market is diverse. Vu Linh has conducted research and experimentation to develop a variety of products, which led to the development of the concept of laser engraving paintings on jaggery wood. He has illustrated a variety of subjects in this series of paintings, including portraits of Uncle Ton, the temple of Uncle Ton, the Dong Son bronze drum, the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, and the My Thuan Bridge. In the past, jaggery's utility was not particularly high; however, it has since evolved into a sophisticated decorative item.
Mr. Vu Linh also conducted experiments with other plants, including bamboo and caged wood, in addition to jaggery, to create handicraft products. As a result, his goal is to create a brand that embodies the distinctive features of his hometown.
Jaggery wooden vase
In general, the low water and fruit yields of jaggery trees at approximately 70 years of age make it difficult to optimize their value, resulting in their removal. Mr. Doan Ro Mel's Tuong Vy handicraft factory in An Phu ward, Tinh Bien town, has since developed the concept of producing a variety of products from jaggery wood.
Originally, the family was producing jaggery, but about 10 years ago, Mr. Doan Ro Mel started experimenting with the production of handicrafts like chopsticks, ashtrays, teapots, vases, and wall paintings. Generally, the products exhibit a long shelf life, resist termite damage, emit a subtle jaggery wood aroma, and possess a distinctive black color.
In particular, the pair of hyacinths with jaggery wood is a fancy and different product on the market. Displaying this pair of hyacinths in the spaces of houses, offices, and living rooms evokes a sense of solemnity. The product has not only contributed to the diversification of the wooden hyacinths product line but also enhanced the quality of products from An Giang Jaggery.
Initially, manual labor produced the aforementioned products in small quantities, resulting in uneven quality. Subsequently, the Tuong Vy facility invested in a variety of equipment, including lathes, engraving machines, and polishing machines, as the volume of orders increased. As a result, the production time is shortened, more products are produced, and the finished products are sophisticated, making them popular with customers.
The jaggery tree has been associated with the people of the Bay Nui area in Tinh Bien town and Tri Ton district, An Giang province, for many generations. However, in the past, people primarily used the fruit for sugar production, leaving the stems and leaves unexploited for value creation. Currently, the rustic tree has been revitalized by a variety of products, including decorative paintings, souvenirs, and household appliances, which have also contributed to the local population's income.
Author: Yen Luong
Translator: Kim Thuan
