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| “Happy Day 2” – lacquer painting by Nguyen Duc Huy |
56 works of painting, sculpture… by famous sculptors and painters became emotional “puzzle pieces,” telling their own stories, but sharing the same rhythm: Family is the path to reach, to return, the place that nurtures love and sacred cultural values.
Colorful dances
Art lovers were surprised and delighted when once again admiring classic statue works by painter Le Ba Dang and academician Diem Phung Thi.
Le Ba Dang's works include the sculpture cluster “Statue of Grandpa, Statue of Grandma” and 2 wooden sculptures with the theme “Maternal Love.” “Statue of Grandpa, Statue of Grandma” – original wooden blocks appear as if carved from the breath of the old forest. The grandpa statue with a decisive sitting posture, the grandma statue with soft curves, but Le Ba Dang does not depict portraits, instead creates symbols of yin - yang, mother - father, as pillars and protection. When light passes through each wood grain, the brown color radiates the warmth of memory, and the viewer is suddenly moved: This is the voice of time, of ancestors. That grandparents, parents are the ones who sow love, the cradle that raises affection, from which children are born. Behind each line is a whole stream of history, behind each wood grain are family stories that still echo.
“Going to Grandma’s” by painter Dang Mau Tuu
The notable work of Diem Phung Thi is the sculpture cluster “Waiting for Husband.” Five dark bronze blocks, each block is a story, evoking deep nostalgia. The mother statue stands tall, holding the child with both hands, showing solidity; the two-faced pillar – one side grandmother, one side grandchild – like two generations facing an invisible point. Light reflects on the statues creating bright – dark areas like the restrained breath of the mother, grandmother, child. “Waiting for Husband” is not a separate story, but a shared story in the historical flow of building and defending the country, of many brides, many wives, many Vietnamese families. It seems, inside each statue block is a whole ocean of maternal love, willing to sacrifice with resilient posture.
Painter Dang Mau Tuu contributed quite a few paintings to the exhibition. The loving house in his paintings is full of warm sunlight and green trees. There, red hearths with bánh xèo, with laughing children. The work “Going to Grandma’s” by Dang Mau Tuu does not carefully paint each facial line, but with an expressive – abstract style, evokes a genuine, simple feeling. Mother, grandmother and three children lie tilted on a giant tree trunk, like a sturdy natural hammock, receiving the spring sunshine. The warm red – orange color block blends with the lush green of the leaves, interwoven with a few gentle yellow rays of sunlight, like inviting the footsteps of visitors from afar: “Come back to Grandma, come back to the warmth of the beloved house.”
“Happy Day 2” by Nguyen Duc Huy is like a lacquer dance of love. The golden and silver glitter in the work shine like a celebratory song. The author does not paint in detail, instead there are two abstract shapes: one half dark red, one half glowing bright orange. Two bodies hugging each other in the middle of a pomegranate garden full of fruit, autumn leaves spread thick underfoot, and a flock of silver-white birds flying around. Each shimmering metallic streak is like a musical note rising, leading the soul into a passionate but also very “sacred” dance of couple happiness.
The work “Spring Day” by Dang Thi Thu An is like a warm sunset printed on textured do paper. Mother and daughter wearing traditional ao dai, the mother in brown with swirling patterns, the daughter in bright red like peach blossoms. The girl holds a bright yellow bouquet of chrysanthemums touching her chest, her trusting eyes looking up at her mother, like a mother-daughter bond. “Spring Day” does not need words, just the gentle hair stroke of the mother, just the happy look of the child, is enough to paint a deeply emotional family picture.
Resonating the whispers of origin
In the message sent by the organizers, family is not only the origin, the first place of education, the foundation of all beautiful cultural values – but also the warm cradle nurturing the human soul throughout life. Therefore, each person entering the gallery will feel protected, letting their soul return to the peaceful place now far away: where the white-haired grandma sits by the hearth making bánh xèo waiting for her grandchild to come home, where the children's laughter echoes in the garden of childhood… Each work here is a separate heartbeat, a deep perspective, a whisper about kinship, maternal love, fatherly love – and also the deep longing for reunion. These works are silently carrying out a sacred mission, reminding us to cherish, preserve and spread family values.
Even just bowing to look at the image of mother and child on a dó paper in a corner of Hue, or quietly watching the sediment wood grain shimmering from an old tree block, viewers will realize: the exhibition room evokes rays of sunlight, warmth, and silent hopes lighting up the epic of family – so that the song of love continues to echo forever.