Phan Vu Tuan, a painter, was born in 1994 in Son Tien Commune, Ha Tinh Province. He grew up in a midland village, surrounded by mountain ranges and immersed in the rhythms of life in a farming family. After studying at the University of Fine Arts in Hue, he decided to remain in the city beside the Huong River, where he has made his home and continued to paint. Over time, Tuan has become deeply attached to Hue, which has come to feel like a second homeland. His native Son Tien village and Hue City have become the two central subjects of his watercolour paintings.

On the afternoon of August 9th, at Lieu Quan Hue Buddhist Cultural Centre, Hue Union of Literature and Arts Associations, in collaboration with Lieu Quan Hue Buddhist Cultural Centre and the family of Nguyen Phan, a late painter, opened the exhibition ‘Nguyen Phan: Echoes of Returning Home’.

The medium of watercolor may appear delicate, yet in the hands of skilled painters, it becomes a powerful means of expression. At the exhibition “There Is… a River”, visitors can experience both the talent of the painters and the distinctive allure of a medium known for its transparency, lightness, and poetic charm.

Painter Mai Chau and the late painter Than Van Huy are two prominent figures in Hue's fine arts scene, leaving behind a legacy of works deeply imbued with Zen philosophy and a profound love for their homeland, Buddhism, and humanity. Their paintings possess a compelling depth, prompting viewers to slow down, reflect, and find a sense of serenity amidst life.

It had been a very long time before the elderly painter Tran Van Mang, from the old quarter of Bao Vinh, made a “comeback.” His paintings are much like his personality: strong, decisive, yet soft and full of emotion.

40 artists, including lecturers and students from the University of Arts, the University of Sciences (Hue University), along with other painters and architects, participated in a creative program titled Sketching French Architectural Heritage and Cultural-Historical Relics in Hue.

As if by a twist of fate, the two painters Hoang Dang Khanh and Tran Anh Huy are not only friends but also share a deep passion for art, culminating in their joint exhibition titled “Ky uc thap mau” (“Memories Illuminated in Color”).

Mossy temples, royal mausoleums, ancient pagodas and the beautiful scenery granted to the former capital city all together form an “urban poem.” And that beauty of Hue is even more gorgeous through eyes of talented painters.

With the theme “Thien Vu” (the dance of the Sky), the solo exhibition of the painter Doan Quynh Nhu seems to lead viewers into her own world, where the artist “whispers” with nature.

In the years from 1930 to 1937, painter Mai Trung Thu was appointed to teach drawing at Quoc Hoc High School. Here, his talent blossomed. Series of his paintings were born, depicting gentle Hue girls, the charming scenery of the Huong river and the temples and royal mausoleums. His paintings in Hue rendered him a solid position in modern Vietnamese painting.