Among Vietnam’s traditional art forms, silk painting has always held a special place for its delicacy, depth, and nostalgic resonance. One of the most prominent names closely associated with Vietnamese silk painting is artist Nguyen Thi Tam.
Born in 1936 in My Tho (Tien Giang Province), Nguyen Thi Tam graduated from Gia Đinh College of Fine Arts in 1958. She has devoted her entire life to painting, art education, and creative journeys across every region of Vietnam.
At the end of this December, the artist presented the largest silk painting exhibition of her career since 1980, marking more than half a century of uninterrupted artistic dedication by one of the most distinguished figures in contemporary Vietnamese fine arts. The exhibition is titled “The Unfinished Journey.”
Traveling to Paint the Full Portrait of the Homeland
In this exhibition, Nguyen Thi Tam introduces 50 silk paintings that have never been publicly exhibited, created from the 1990s to the present. These works go beyond artistic expression; they are visual diaries in color, an extensive archive preserving the unique cultural values of different regions throughout the artist’s journeys.
Through her paintings, viewers are immersed in a vivid portrait of Vietnam stretching from North to South across decades: golden rice fields of the Mekong Delta extending endlessly, nourished by fertile alluvial soil; vast waterways filled with drifting purple water hyacinths at dusk, evoking a sense of longing and tranquility; quiet village roads shaded from the midday sun, fragrant with memories; and majestic primeval forests where nature reveals its raw, unembellished beauty.
Without seeking complexity, her paintings are rich in observation and emotional depth. Every line is a living record; every color tells a story. The artist has chosen travel as a way of life, and painting as a way to preserve the beauty that passes by each day.
Painting for Herself, Preserving for Life
Her artistic life is inseparable from constant journeys. She once shared:
“I was born under the Tham Lang star. I must keep moving, because my paintings are created right on the roads I travel.”
By painting what she sees directly, Nguyen Thi Tam’s works possess an extraordinary authenticity, almost like historical documents of rural life. From a simple water scoop resting in a small wooden boat, to a clay stove used for cooking on boats during flood season, these seemingly ordinary details become the soul of an entire culture that must be preserved.
With her sensitivity and wholehearted devotion to life, she finds value in the simplest things. What others may overlook, she captures silk to preserve for generations to come. Many overseas Vietnamese have been moved to tears upon seeing her paintings, reconnecting with childhood memories, the scent of the fields, the sound of water, the colors of their homeland. These are memories thought to have faded, yet vividly awakened through her art.
A Bridge to Future Generations
Mention Nguyen Thi Tam, and art lovers immediately envision a silk painting style that is soft and fluid, with gentle, luminous colors. Everyday moments are portrayed through brushstrokes that are both strong and profoundly feminine. The 50 works featured in this exhibition represent the most distinctive essence of Nguyen Thi Tam’s silk painting style.
Many viewers have asked: “Why does this exhibition not include her lotus-themed paintings?”
Her lotus series has long been admired and sought after, yet she simply smiles and answers:
“This time, I must repay my journeys. At my age, I am a historical witness to the era I live in - a bridge connecting past generations, my own generation, the present, and the future. I have recorded life as truthfully as possible through images and colors. My paintings contain not only my emotions and the forms of my homeland, but also history preserved for the future. These paintings have slept for too long; they must awaken, transform, and prepare for a very beautiful lotus season in my life.”
This is not merely the reflection of an artist, but the heartfelt voice of someone who has devoted her entire life to Vietnamese art.
The Unfinished Journey
From its very title, the exhibition evokes deep emotion and conveys the artist’s message:
a journey to preserve Vietnam’s traditional silk painting art,
and a personal journey of an artist who has never grown weary, continuously creating with passion and profound love for the beauty of her homeland.
“The Unfinished Journey” is not only an introduction to silk art, but also a repository of memories and images of a Vietnam that later generations may never have seen such as paintings depicting Hoi An or Cao Lanh Market in the 1990s. This is an exhibition that no lover of art and culture should miss.
Exhibition Information
- Exhibition Name: Silk Painting Exhibition - The Unfinished Journey
- Artist: Nguyen Thi Tam
- Venue: Chillala House of Art - 75 Xuan Thuy Street, An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- Duration: December 21, 2024 - December 30, 2025
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM daily
- Admission: Free
- Press & Commercial Contact: Artist Nguyen Thi Tam (+84) 908 056 499
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CREDIT:
- Photography: Tue Tran
- Content: Tuyet Ngan
- Design: Trung Huynh
