Bringing “new breaths” to Hue

Hue fine arts students discussing a contemporary artwork associated with the heritage story

Turning heritage into creative material

For Hue people, heritage is often associated with moss-covered tiled roofs, the sound of temple bells, or the purple ao dai along the Huong River, while in the eyes of international artists, heritage emerges in many surprising forms.

Professor Amrit Chusuwan from Thailand brought the work “Remaining Vitality”. He did not exploit grand symbols, but sought seemingly small images from ordinary daily memories. Under the lens of contemporary photography, these details suddenly became the undercurrent of identity. For him, heritage is also a flow of memory, constantly changing and being reborn in a new context. Through this approach, viewers suddenly realize that a mossy wall, an old fan, the shadow of a person walking across the street... can also become a form of “living heritage” when viewed with creative eyes.

In contrast to Amrit's depth, Keisuke Kawahara, a sculptor from Japan, chose the boldness of material. In his work “Intercultural Communication”, he combined plaster and metal, constructing a hybrid creature that is both intriguing and thought-provoking. The half-elephant and half-lion image serves as a metaphor for cultural cross-pollination: Heritage is no longer confined within national borders, but can become a bridge for cultures to communicate. When this work is presented in Hue, a land that was once a center of East-West exchange, the message becomes even more evocative. Nguyen Thuy Duong, a second-year student at University of Arts, Hue University, commented: “The work is like a message reminding us not to fear innovation, but to let heritage step out of its familiar framework to live with the world.”

Meanwhile, Kim Deuk Jin, a painter from the Republic of Korea, chose a simple yet powerful expression. With “Salute for Peace”, he used a collage technique from everyday material like newspaper, combined with acrylics, to construct a symbolic image. With this simplicity, he affirmed that heritage lies not only in architecture or festivals, but also in universal spiritual values like the aspiration for peace. When placed in the context of Hue, a land that endured many historical upheavals, yet preserves its spirit of peacefulness, the work becomes a profound communication between the international artist and the local audience.

Each artist has a different style and creative material, but the common meeting point is the way they transform heritage into creative material, not repeating old clichés, but opening up new way of interpretation. In their eyes, Hue's heritage is not confined to the past, but is a source of energy to raise questions about the present and build the future.

Preserving identity while integrating

A special feature is that the international artists participated in real-world experiences associated with Hue heritage. They had the opportunity to visit the Imperial Citadel, stroll around the royal tombs, and sit by the Huong River... listening to the stories from the very living spaces of the heritage. These experiences did not stop at observation, but were immediately transformed into sketches, paintings, and installations.

This very practice created a significant impact on Hue people, especially students - the artists who take heritage as their creative material. They not only admired the finished works, but also witnessed the process of international artists “communicating” with the heritage, transforming emotions into shapes and lines.

According to Dr. Vo Quang Phat, Vice Rector in charge of the University of Arts, this encounter has offered a precious opportunity to Hue's fine arts: “These international works not only enrich the exhibition, but also help Hue students and artists learn how to view heritage with creative eyes. From there, they can recreate, transform, and deliver new messages. This is a necessary direction for Hue's fine arts to both preserve its identity, and integrate with the current flow of contemporary art.”

“From these works, Hue public, especially the young generation of artists, gained a new perspective: heritage is not a “display box”, but a source of energy for creation. The citadel walls, tiled roofs, and cultural memories... when viewed through the lens of international artists, suddenly become suggestions for new ways of storytelling. And that is the “new breaths” that Hue is receiving: the boldness to experiment, the courage to engage in global communication while still rooting itself in its heritage land,” shared Dr. Vo Quang Phat.

The “new breaths” from international friends from all over the world, when meeting with the rich foundation of Hue's heritage, have opened up an exciting direction. It is the path for Hue's fine arts to affirm its identity, while confidently stepping into the global flow of contemporary art.