Fabric painted to tell Hanoi stories

THE HANOI TIMES — Visitors will have a chance to explore different parts of Hanoi and the city's unique characteristics through her exhibition entitled "Fabric tells its stories" which is underway at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

This is the third solo exhibition of a distinguished Vietnamese artist whose work spans nearly four decades. Throughout her career, the artist has eschewed traditional paint and brushes in favor of pre-printed pieces of fabric that she meticulously arranges into vibrant, textured paintings.

The exhibition features 75 fabric-cut works of varying sizes and themes, offering a diverse exploration of landscapes, figures, and emotions. The event will include the presentation of large-scale landscape paintings, measuring 200cm x 90cm, which demonstrate the artist's technical mastery and dedication to her medium.

In addition to these works, Thuc will present a special collection of fabrics that she has collected over the years, providing insight into the materials that have played a central role in her creative career. The artist will also give a live demonstration, offering the public a rare opportunity to learn the techniques behind her distinctive fabric-cutting method.

Thuc's work is often inspired by her hometown of Hanoi. Many of her works depict the Long Bien Bridge, the Opera House, St. Joseph's Cathedral, and Hoan Kiem Lake. Notable works include the painting depicting Hanoi's iconic Quan Chuong Gate in Spring, where the artist portrays its serene beauty; and the old Hanoi scenery with an electric tram passing by Hoan Kiem Lake, which evokes Hanoians of the old beautiful days some 30 years ago.

The artist tells The Hanoi Times that local markets and tailors are Thuc's fabric suppliers. She also collected brocades woven by ethnic women, silk from mulberry silkworms, or fabrics imported from abroad. Unique materials and the artist's time-consuming work have contributed to these "one-of-a-kind" paintings, making the prices much higher than ordinary paintings made of conventional materials.

“They are expensive but because of my passion, I don’t regret spending more money to make them even more pricey,” she said.

Thuc, who has also worked in oil, gouache, and watercolor, has focused exclusively on fabric art for nearly four decades. Her patchwork landscapes have received national and international acclaim, and her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and private collections around the world.

The exhibition is open to the public until April 8 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.