The nostalgic beauty of Hanoi's old houses in the fall is captured in a charming painting by the young deaf artist Tran Nam Long.
Tran Nam Long, born in 2005 with disabilities, started drawing at the age of three, and his art evolved into a way for him to communicate his feelings.
Long's naive view of the world makes Hanoi seem quiet, uncluttered, yet full of romance and grace. Time seems to stand still in the old houses on To Hien Thanh, Tran Xuan Soan, Phan Huy Chu, Tran Hung Dao, and Dang Tat streets, as well as in the apartment blocks D14 Phuong Mai and A12 Ton That Tung, which Long painstakingly drew and preserved as Hanoi's places of memory.
Art scholar Tran Hau Yen The said of Nam Long's paintings: "As Hanoi becomes more crowded, bustling, and modern, Tran Nam Long's depiction of the city has an intimate and familiar feel - offering a space where we can linger for a lifetime, evoking a sense of nostalgia when we are far away."
In 2019, Long's portrayals of ancient houses were included in the book “Impressions of Hanoi: From the Sketches of French Colonial Buildings,” which secured him a spot in the exhibition “Bui Xuan Phai - For the Love of Hanoi.”
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Through this young artist's eyes, Hanoi's old houses reveal a dreamy beauty, characterized by weathered walls, green windows, and balconies overflowing with flowers. |
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The old house on Phan Huy Chu Street and Hanoian's daily life are beautifully depicted. |
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The house on Phung Hung Street evokes emotions and takes the viewer back to the old days. |
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A charming French-style house in Hanoi with its characteristic yellow walls and blue windows. |
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The lively Hang Chai Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter. |
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The old house on Pho Duc Chinh Street. |
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An old block of flats on Vu Trong Phung Street, Thanh Xuan District. |