Pham Ho Mai Anh, an international student from Vietnam in PhD course at Yeungnam University
Exhibit on 27 neckties using the traditional patterns of Korea and Vietnam
[May 10, 2012]

 
 Ao dai textile design using the Taegeuk pattern of Korea and the star pattern of Vietnam
 (from left to right, Pham Ho Mai Anh, Professor Lee, Youn-soon)

 "I hope that Vietnam will also become more interested in its traditional patterns and rediscover its values, utilize it, and further develop it like Korea. I hope to be the pioneer for this. That is why I am putting on my first solo exhibit under my name. I ask for your interest and encouragement."

 An exotic exhibit was held at the YU Chunma Arts Center Gallery from the 9th to 11th. The 27 unique neckties using the traditional patterns of Korea and Vietnam as the motif attracted much attention.

 
 This exhibit was held by Pham Ho Mai Anh (32), who is currently in a PhD program at the YU Graduate School (major in Clothing and Fashion). After working as an instructor at the University of Technology Education Ho Chi Minh City, Pham came to YU in 2004 and received a master's degree in 2006 in Visual Design. Pham is now enrolled in a PhD program for Clothing and Fashion and displayed the textile design works made for the PhD diploma thesis.

 The theme of the thesis was 'Finding and Collecting data on the traditional patterns of Vietnam, and constructing and utilizing a database'. After majoring in Visual Design for a master's degree, Pham chose textile designs using the traditional patterns of Vietnam as the topic because Professor Lee, Youn-soon (Department of Clothing and Fashion), who is known as a master of textile design using the traditional patterns of Korea, was Pham's advising professor.

 However, Pham stated that the research process was no easy task. Unlike in Korea, there is almost no research and literary materials on the traditional patterns of Vietnam. Therefore, Pham had to fly to Vietnam whenever time permitted to take photos at museums, temples, and historic sites, then rearrange the collected data and enter them in a database. Thanks to these, it was possible to create new unique textile design works by comparing, analyzing, and applying the similarities and differences, as well as the features of the traditional patterns of Korea and Vietnam.

 9 of the 27 neckties on display used only the traditional patterns of Korea, 8 used only the traditional patterns of Vietnam, while 10 combined the traditional patterns of both Korea and Vietnam. It also attracted visitors by displaying the Ao dai design that was awarded the 2009 Korea-Azerbaijan International Invitational Fashion Exhibit for its design that integrated Korea's unique Taegeuk pattern with the unique star pattern of Vietnam.

 Professor Lee, Youn-soon (Department of Clothing and Fashion), who guided Pham Ho Mai Anh in the PhD course, stated, "They are textile design works that not only have brilliant and unique artistic value, but also commercial possibilities," while adding, "I would like to applaud Mai Anh for the passion and efforts made to find and develop the values of traditional patterns."

 In August, Pham Ho Mai Anh, who received her PhD, will return to the University of Technology Education Ho Chi Minh City. However, she will now stand on the podium not as an instructor, but as a professor. She is also planning to open a website that will provide a database on traditional Vietnamese patterns that she painstakingly constructed so that people who need it can utilize it.

 "I was able to continue my research despite the difficulties with marriage and childbirth and complete my PhD program, while being awarded at 9 domestic and international design contests, thanks to my advising professor who always took care of me." She also added, "One of the first things I want to do is to translate and publish Professor Lee's book 'Textile Design' in Vietnamese, and then , I would like to write a book on textile design together with Professor Lee and publish it. For this, I must work much harder on my research on traditional Vietnamese patterns. I don't want to hurt my teacher's reputation," she said with a smile.

 
 On another note, Professor Lee, Youn-soon, the advising professor of Pham Ho Mai Ahn, won the author's award and a prize of five million won at the '2012 Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles General Assembly and Academic Conference' recently, with her book that was first published in 1997 and has three issues as of current titled 'Textile Design' (304 pages). The entire winning was donated as funding for the development of the department. When she served as the dean of the department, she personally gave millions of won in scholarships to students who were awarded in various contests and extracurricular activities.

 Professor Lee said, "The biggest joy in teaching is watching students grow" and added, "It is nice to give scholarships to students with good grades, but I also hope to see students who bring glory to our university and department through various activities also receive scholarships as a token of encouragement."