The art of architecture and sculpture, as well as local culturalfeatures from communal houses throughout the north of Vietnam, are beingdisplayed at an exhibition in Hanoi.

As many as 80photos of communal houses, built between the 16th and 18th century,feature architectural designs, sculptures and local festivals. Also ondisplay are 15 wooden and plaster copies of decorative sculptures fromcommunal houses, as well as three documentaries on architecture andvillage festivals make up the exhibition, entitled Culture space ofcommunal houses in Vietnam's northern Delta.

Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to participatein historic cultural activities at the communal houses throughobserving various objects displayed in the exhibition, such asworshipping the altar of the village's genie, and through folk songs andmusic by artists from the Vietnam Cheo (traditional opera) Theatre.

"During the development of modern society, communal houses, wherevillagers share cultural activities, are losing their roles in today'scommunities," said Le Van Suu, head master of Vietnam Fine Arts College,"The main reason for this problem lies in people's lack of awareness,understanding and respect toward the [communal houses] heritage."

"Such an exhibition is necessary to enhance people's awareness of thevalues and readiness to preserve both tangible and intangible culturalvalues at local communal houses."

The exhibition is aresult of a two-year project carried out by a team of lecturers andstudents at the college in more than 10 northern and central provinces.

Nguyen Duc Binh, who had earlier participated in theproject, told Viet Nam News that he and his friends had learnt muchthrough their field trips.

"We felt regret as manycommunal houses were encroached upon by surrounding neighborhoods," hesaid, "The images of an old banyan tree, a well of fresh water and alarge yard at the communal house no longer exist in many villages. Atsome communal houses, local communities have to build doors to close offcommunal houses to protect them from encroachment, which breaks up theoriginal architecture of communal houses – as an open building for allpeople."

Bui Thi Thanh Mai, who was among theresearchers for the project, expressed her sorrow at seeing manycommunal houses, which were completely new after expensive upgrades,while in contrast, many communal houses are being neglected and fallinginto disrepair.

Fine arts researcher Nguyen HaiPhong, from the Vietnam Fine Arts Institute, noted the exhibition'sfocus on architecture and sculpture in communal houses, through whichall cultural lifestyles and esthetic conceptions of local residents canbe understood.

"There is informality, even in theformal worship areas," he said, "For example, the scene of young men andwomen flirting with one another in the wooden sculptures. Or you cansee a humorous scene of a tiger, who is always hunted by men in somesculptures, watching two men kicking a shuttle cork."

"It's good to organise such an exhibition for young urban people,especially foreign people like me," said Russian researcher NatashaKraevskaia, who has lived in Vietnam for more than 20 years, "But Iexpect more objects from communal houses, like palanquins and statues,to be displayed here so those viewing can imagine life in communalhouses in the countryside."

The exhibition is a partof a project entitled "Research, collect, advertise and bring into fullplay special values of communal houses culture heritage in Vietnam'snorthern Delta", which is being held by the Vietnam Fine Arts Collegebetween 2012 and 2013.

The exhibition runs untilDecember 19. Also, a conference on issues of preservation and bringinginto full play cultural values of communal houses will be held onDecember 10.-VNA