“Acquired Identity”: Minh Dam’s watercolor journey and cultural dialogue

THE HANOI TIMES — The serene and solemn of the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) complex comes alive with colors upon the Minh Dam’s solo exhibition “Acquired Identity,” the biggest exhibit of a world-famous artist born in the thousand-year-old heritage site of Hanoi.

More than 200 watercolor works, created from 2005 to the present, were displayed in Vietnam for the first time in chronological order, tracing a two-decade artistic journey where memory, emotion and technique intertwined to tell a story of identity and growth.

The blend of Vietnamese and Polish souls in the painting creates a rare emotional depth and turns art into a bridge between two cultures.

“Born in Vietnam and raised in Poland, I carry two streams of memory, two aesthetic systems, two ways of seeing the world,” Minh Dam said.

He shared with The Hanoi Times that he grew up with Vietnamese memories – smoke in the evening air, old streets, hot pho – yet matured among cold winters, northern light and quiet corners of Poland.

“Identity is not a destination. It is a journey. It is not given but shaped through experience. Multiculturalism is not a burden but a strength – a bridge connecting me to others and helping me understand who I am,” said the artist.

The exhibition marked the conclusion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Poland. It highlighted cultural exchange and offered the public a chance to reflect on the artistic development of Minh Dam.

The intertwined cultures are vividly reflected in Minh Dam’s canvases, inviting viewers to witness a dialogue between East and West. The exhibition, running until December 26, 2025, has drawn a diverse audience of locals and foreigners alike, regardless of painters, architects, art critics and students.

Pham Kieu Linh, a first-year student at Hanoi Architectural University, said she attended the exhibition at the encouragement of her lecturers, architects and art scholars who have long admired Minh Dam’s mastery of watercolor.

“They explained that the contrast in his work does not clash but weaves together, creating a dialogue across space and time, like watching two worlds lean toward each other. Each stroke carries the rhythm of Hanoi’s streets alongside the quiet grace of classical European art,” she shared.

Their enthusiasm prepared her for the technical skill on display, but not for the depth of emotion she felt standing before the paintings.

“I could truly sense the cultural blend in his works, where modern Hanoi meets the timeless elegance of Western landscapes,” Linh said.

The journey of a global artist 

Minh Dam is a master watercolorist, architect and art educator, with over 20 years of artistic practice and development bridging Vietnam and Europe.

Holding Vietnamese and Polish citizenship and earning a Master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Warsaw University of Technology (Politechnika Warszawska), Poland, Minh Dam has more than two decades devoted to watercolor and art education.

He has established himself as a prominent voice among contemporary watercolor artists. He co-founded the Polish Watercolor Artists Association and has taught, led workshops and presented exhibitions in over 30 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

In the “Acquired Identity” collection shown in the Temple of Literature, his works are divided into “Early stage: Innocence and exploration (2005–2010), Mature stage: Reflection and richness (2011–2017) and Ripening stage: Harmony and multiculturalism (2018–present).

Minh Dam’s mastery of watercolor allows him to convey emotion, memory and light through each wash. Figures may be absent, but atmosphere, light and subtle layers become the soul of each work.

Viewers step into the painting, where every shifting hue and every fold of light and shadow stirs emotions that are both personal yet universal. 

He observed the world through two lenses, which are memories of Vietnam and experiences in Poland. Hanoi streets, evening smoke and light filtering through old corners coexist with cold winters and northern light from Poland, forming the first dialogue between the two cultures.

In the next series, Minh Dam’s colors grew richer, textures more complex and light was handled with precision. The paintings record details of Polish architecture, castles and quiet streets while returning to familiar Hanoi scenes through the perspective of someone who has lived abroad.

This period marked his mastery of watercolor techniques – washes, shades, granulation and spatial composition. Each layer and interplay of light and shadow evokes emotion naturally, letting viewers find their own rhythm in color and light.

In recent years, Minh Dam’s works reflect harmony and multiculturalism. Paintings are no longer only records of memory or architecture but stories of identity formation.

“I used to feel divided between two worlds, as if I truly belonged nowhere. Now I see multiculturalism as a bridge. It helps me understand others, connect cultures and understand myself. It is not a burden but a strength.”

Colors are strong yet subtle, and light and space are handled with care, creating emotional depth and reflection. These works trace an inner journey, including observing, questioning, losing direction and ultimately finding oneself, while reflecting life between Vietnamese and Polish cultures.

Thao Nguyen, a 4th-year student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, shared with The Hanoi Times that Minh Dam’s paintings captured the familiar alleys of Hanoi, evoking the charm of the city’s timeless charm. “It feels like old Hanoi unfolded on the canvas, a city that resonates with anyone deeply connected to its soul.”

Choosing the Temple of Literature for the exhibition sends a thoughtful message.

“In a space preserving the tradition of learning and national values, Minh Dam’s works open a dialogue between past and present, national identity and contemporary flow. The exhibition brings art back to its cultural roots and spreads lasting value to the community,” Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities, told The Hanoi Times.

Interactive activities included calendar painting, tea appreciation, Christmas card making, red envelope painting, watercolor demonstrations and guided tours with the artist. Visitors could experience how color, light and memory are embedded in each layer.

Vietnam–Poland cultural exchange

The exhibition illustrates cultural dialogue, bringing to life the subtle interplay between Vietnamese and Polish heritage through colors, light and memory.

Each painting becomes a meeting point where the streets of Hanoi blend with the quiet corners of Poland and traditional motifs merge with contemporary perspectives, allowing viewers to feel the emotional resonance of two cultures in conversation.

Sharing with The Hanoi Times, Joanna Skoczek, Polish Ambassador to Vietnam, said Minh Dam represents a Vietnamese born in Vietnam but raised in Poland. “His personal story, shaped by the experience of moving between Poland and Vietnam, is beautifully reflected in the “Acquired Identity” exhibition, demonstrating how identity can be enriched, not divided, by belonging to two cultures.”

Minh Dam sees the exhibition as an inner journey, it’s 20 years of creation, observation, questioning, losing direction and finding himself.

“The exhibition is not only about Vietnam and Poland but also about mobility in the era of globalization. Identity becomes layered, from birthplace, residence, to the places we pass and the people we meet. It requires empathy, connection and openness,” he said.