Expat Spotlight: Saeko Ando - Visualizing The Intertwined Cultural Identities of Vietnam and Japan

Saeko Ando (Photo courtesy of Saeko Ando).

Although the time Saeko Ando has lived in Vietnam is now longer than her years living in Japan, her first impression of Vietnam was not ideal. However, it did provide her insight into Vietnam's welcoming hospitality.

“Having worked as a flight attendant for Japan Airlines, I enjoyed visiting foreign cities and countries around the world. But the Vietnam that I encountered in 1995 was very difficult to feel friendly with. Then while exploring in Hanoi, I got sick. The lady who ran the guesthouse noticed that I was sick. And without smiling, without looking friendly, she took very good care of me,” Saeko said.

Along with the memories about that fateful trip, Saeko also has a lot of unforgettable stories when she first took up an interest in Vietnamese lacquer. She was fascinated by the traditional craftsmanship of the tropical land.

Starting 1995, during the first few years of her apprenticeship, she learned almost all of the steps in crafts of natural lacquer. Later on, she even begged a retired master craftsman, Lam Huu Chinh, who specialized in Voc base making, to teach her. Her goal was to master the craft and document it at the same time.

In 2000, Saeko's passion and mastery for lacquer art was recognized. She became the first foreign member of the Hanoi Art Association. This was after only 5 years since she started lacquer making. She also studied under the guidance of famous artist Trinh Tuan and lacquer master Doan Chi Trung.

Not only her masters but also her fellow lacquer artists played big parts in Saeko's journey in art making.

She shared that when she first opened her own studio, Saeko decided to invite artist Nguyen Huy Hoan, who had a great mastery in crafts of lacquer with longer experience, to join her. That way, even without the master's guidance, she can continue to observe her colleague in each step of lacquer making.

For Saeko, any aspect of our daily life can be an inspiration for her art. From that she realized that focusing too much on perfection will not let one's creativity flow naturally and unexpectedly.

Saeko (first row, second from left) and fellow lacquer artist at their master Doan Chi Trung's studio. Photo was taken in 1997 (Photo courtesy of Saeko Ando).

“I was working on the art works for my solo exhibition at my master's studio in the rural area in Hanoi. It used to be a farmer's house, a very simple building in a farmyard. There were many mosquitos and one of them flew into the wet lacquer on my painting. I was so upset, thinking it was ruined. Then my fellow apprentices looked at me with smiles and said “it just created a new texture on your painting,” Saeko recalls an episode from her learning days at an imperfect working condition.

Saeko at her studio in Hoi An (Photo courtesy of Saeko Ando).

In her creative journey, Saeko believes she has reached a milestone when she came to develop her original methods. It was thanks to what she learned from past generations of lacquer masters and decades of experimentation, said the Japanese artist. Also, this accomplishment helped her better visualize the intertwined cultural identities of Vietnam, her second home, and Japan, her homeland.

Mother of pearl for princess's eye and earring (Photo courtesy by Saeko Ando).

In the peaceful space of her own studio in Hoi An in 2022, she received the opportunity to create a key-visual for a new opera, “Princess Anio” - a love story between a Japanese merchant and a Vietnamese princess, a daughter of Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen (late 16th - early 17th century) in Hoi An ancient town. This project was no ordinary commission for Saeko. The fact that it is scheduled to debut at the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Vietnam and Japan is not the only reason.

“I was so honorable that [the project director board] thought that I was the perfect person [to create the key-visual of the opera]. This would be a great opportunity for the people in Vietnam, in Japan and the world to learn about this amazing art of Vietnamese lacquer painting, ” said Saeko.

She prepared for months, gathered information and carried out research to find creative ways to celebrate love and respect between the two countries. Then a vision appeared in Saeko's mind. A profile of the princess that bears the beautiful features of Vietnamese women. The artist's goal was to render the most captivating eye that tells her story.

“When talking about the marriage between Princess Anio and Prince, it is usually about their love story. But it is not just a romantic story. It is a love story between man and woman, among families, and toward homeland. Beside her determination, sorrow and also love, I wanted to show a universal love in one eye. Then I wanted to create her hair with layers of waves with different textures, showing the times of happiness and difficulties she had to overcome to be with the loved one,” said the lacquer master.

Drawing the face of the princess was the most delicate and sensitive part in the art-making process, said Saeko (Photo courtesy by Saeko Ando).

Apart from the success creating the key-visual that was well received by the public, she had very successful solo exhibitions in 2023. Watching the audience at her exhibitions, Saeko was pleasantly surprised that young people are becoming more interested in lacquer art.

From left to right: Saeko Ando, Vietnamese diva My Linh and lead actor Yusuke Kobori. at the World Premiere of the "Princess Anio Opera" (Photo courtesy of Saeko Ando).

“From my experiences, the best way to connect with people despite the language or cultural barriers is to be mindful. I was really surprised that the audience, who are from different generations, sex, social and cultural background, seemed to enjoy my artworks by sensing what I sensed, experiencing what motivated me and what excited me. The expression on their and their sparkling eyes were proof of that,” said Saeko.

Saeko's natural lacquer paintings on acrylic substrate at the "Urushi Forms and Hope - Lacquer Art in Southeast Asia Exhibition", which was held at the Chinretsukan gallery of the University Art Museum at Tokyo University of the Arts in September 2022 (Photo courtesy by Saeko Ando ).

Witnessing the rising interest in natural lacquer is the biggest joy for the Japanese artist. Saeko has been concerned that in the current economy, fewer and fewer people are interested in time-consuming craft. However, she is still hopeful and determined to continue sharing her passion and her knowledge of the art.

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