Female artist from Nghe An province is lost in her hometown soul

(Baonghean) - Pink lotus flowers are spreading their fragrance in the autumn wind, the roads along the flower village in Hanoi, the bicycle carrying flowers brightens up a corner of the street... I asked the petite artist who painted Hanoi with all that gentleness and sophistication: Are you a "young lady" from Hanoi? Female artist Vo Thanh Huong answered me with a distant smile: No, I am a girl from Nghe An.

A "Still Life" work by artist Vo Thanh Huong.

Her house is located on a small alley in Tay Ho, Hanoi, where female artist Vo Thanh Huong (member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, member of the Hanoi Fine Arts Association) lives and quietly creates art. She sits by the sunny window, and her bright paintings seem to light up with joy before my eyes. Just looking at them is enough to know that she loves nature immensely.

She said, she always has a feeling of being stunned when standing before the beauty of nature. And it is also nature itself, that urges her to draw and draw. There are many times when she feels like it runs by itself, overflowing into her colors. Yet there are still times when it feels like it can't keep up, still feels helpless.

She gave an example, like the time she returned to her hometown 6 years ago. “I thought that Giang River only existed in my dreams. But it was right before my eyes, gentle and soft like a silk strip in the mist.” She said that she was surprised, because although she was from Nghe An, she was born and raised mostly in Hanoi. There was a part of her soul that was always wandering in the countryside, always feeling lacking, like someone in debt, and then burst out when she set foot in Thanh Chuong, her homeland. The hometown was still poor, but so beautiful.

Artist Vo Thanh Huong

I should have visited my hometown more. And indeed, I still wish to return... Vo Thanh Huong said so with all the emotions welling up in her eyes. Throughout her life in exile, the female artist has searched for the beauty of new lands, but she knows that in her soul, in some hidden corner, there is still a picture of her hometown so that sometimes, without the hustle and bustle, she quietly remembers... She dreams again, the dream of painting her hometown river, the dream of painting the small river with the simple, honest poor people. The dream of painting a bowl of tea that ripples like honey with all the joys and sorrows of her hometown...

Born in 1953, living mainly in Hanoi, Vo Thanh Huong loved drawing since childhood, by the age of 15, 16, Thanh Huong was praised by many people, including art students, for her paintings. In 1969, she studied at the Industrial Fine Arts College, specializing in Toys, and in 1985, she continued her studies at the University of Industrial Fine Arts, specializing in Graphics. Since 1974, she has worked at the Technical Drawing Department of the Institute of Archaeology. The work here is quite interesting, because it gives her a unique perspective on painting associated with the approach of archaeology.

Thanh Huong was assigned to draw artifacts, draw archaeological sites, draw book covers, magazines... If the precision down to the millimeter on the drawing gives her a realistic view of the object, then the decorative patterns, ancient motifs, images imbued with the color of time have given the artist a deep look inside, to see its nature, hidden beauty and history.

That is why in the 90s of the last century, the paintings of artist Vo Thanh Huong more or less had an archaeological feel. The color of time and the decorative details of archaeology were skillfully incorporated into her works, giving them an ancient, profound, simple and sophisticated look. These were paintings drawn with colored powder, Do paper, mainly using black and white or gray tones.

A gouache painting called “Temporary farewell” created by her in 1996 has a very strange composition, which Thanh Huong calls “a split composition”, depicting the farewell between a soldier and a girl. Many people have commented on her strange painting, giving it many compliments. But to her, it is simply a reality of life, it is as simple as life itself and if it has a bit of a different color, it is because it is painted by the heart of a woman, a woman who longs for love, longs for completeness but is also resilient, and willing to endure and sacrifice.

An archaeological book with cover drawn by artist Thanh Huong

Later, she painted mainly with oil and acrylic paints. Many of her flower paintings, still life paintings, and landscape paintings were loved by friends and relatives, such as “Birth of flowers”, “Still life”, “Peaceful street corner”, “Baby’s yard corner”, “Suburbs”… However, Thanh Huong did not paint much. She considered art creation a quiet and serious job.

“I paint what I like, but I pay a lot of attention to technique. After finishing a painting, if I find it not beautiful, I will edit it until I am satisfied,” the female artist confided. Therefore, it may take her a month or a few months to paint a picture, but surely in that picture must be something she has felt, has waited for, has tried to express through the language of color and painting techniques.

There was also a time in her life when she felt sad and stuck, but it was painting that lifted her up. She buried all her sadness in her passion for creation, so that every morning when she woke up, she loved her job more, loved the people around her more, felt more clearly every breath of life, every leaf trembling in the morning dew, every flower bud blooming under the dawn light and the myriad of colors that were kindling the joy of life.

Since retiring in 2008, Thanh Huong has spent more time painting. When asked about her artistic concept, she answered simply: “Everyone loves beauty, expressing and creating it even more. For me, painting is first and foremost to satisfy my passion for creativity, and then to decorate the walls of my family and friends. A fresh, beautiful painting, if hung in the right place, will bring a feeling of comfort and warmth to everyone.”

And she has silently become that decorator for the houses. Her living room is lit up by the pink color of the petals in the paintings, they seem to be sparkling and inviting, as if asking kindly, as if welcoming joyfully. Some guests like the paintings, come to buy them, a few close friends are given them by her to hang at home, so her joy seems to be shared and spread. Thanh Huong is satisfied with that.

Not only does she love decorating walls with art, she is also a woman who loves housework. After hours of working hard with the brush, Thanh Huong loves to go into the kitchen, tinkering with spices, pots and pans, and cooking delicious dishes for her family. “Not only delicious, I want them to be beautiful too,” she said. And once again, she is interested in doing the work of a decorator: cooking and arranging dishes beautifully. She is happy because those simple things are contributing to beautifying life and bringing joy to everyone. As a woman, she said, you should know how to shine with simple things.

Whether it is dishes displayed on a plate or paintings of flowers and landscapes with gentle, pure colors, the work of female artist Vo Thanh Huong always aims for beauty. For her, beauty must be good, beauty is always good. And she believes that even in the smallest things, people need to make them beautiful, when that means they have done something good for themselves and for those around them.

T.Vinh - Q.An