Local artist and designer Jennifer Tran is calling on the Vietnamese community to take part in a collaborative art project that celebrates traditional Vietnamese culture and stories.
Tran is working alongside Memetica Daniele Poidomani to make the giant Lac Long Quan dragon, an inflatable dragon lantern that will be paraded at the Brimbank Be Bold Festival in October.
Tran is seeking help from the community to contribute in the making and sewing of the dragon.
“This is really a project for the community to be a part of, one that is designed and made by the people,” she said.
The inflatable dragon is a nod to the Vietnamese folklore of 100 eggs where †he Dragon Lord, Lac Long Quan falls in love with Au Co, a fairy who gives birth to a sac containing 100 eggs from which 100 children were born, becoming the origin of the Vietnamese people.
Tran said it is important to create art that celebrates Vietnamese culture and stories in public spaces.
“I want to celebrate our community and our folklore, especially for the next generation in our community. It is so important for them to learn about their identity,” she said.
“The dragon represents leadership. We’ve become a community that is defined in the western suburbs of Melbourne and I want to celebrate that.”
The community is invited to visit the Bluestone Church Arts Space in Footscray from August 22-25, between 9.30am-6.30pm to help out.
Details: Jennifer, 0413 273 957.
