HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese film star Hứa Vĩ Văn has impressed art aficionados at a painting exhibition Hà Nội.

Entitled Vùng Thơ (Musings), the exhibition is his first in Hà Nội, showcasing 16 acrylic-on-canvas paintings that he created since March.

To prepare for the exhibition in Hà Nội, Văn said that he was careful in finding the topic because “Hà Nội is the land of a thousand years of culture so the Hanoians indeed have an exquisite taste in art.”

Movie star Hứa Vĩ Văn poses with a painting that he created for the exhibition Vùng Thơ (Musings) in Hà Nội.— Photo courtesy of the artist

Musings has been dedicated to flowers as flowers are part of human life, adorning the living environment of people and lifting their mood.

“Flowers perform in almost all occasions of people, from special events to ordinary moments.

“Beyond the material, flowers are the present that can bring spiritual values. Giving flowers to another person is to give a meaningful yet spiritual present. Therefore, by choosing the flower as the main theme, I want all the paintings can convey my love and my thankfulness to anyone who visits my exhibition,” said the actor.

Before Vùng Thơ in Hà Nội, Văn showcased other his paintings in two exhibitions, Vùng Mơ (Dreamland) and Vùng Yên (Night Irene), in HCM City.

The paintings of all three exhibitions were created at Toong – a network of co-working spaces in Hà Nội, HCM City and Vientiane (Lao). His artistic labour in the popular working space is part of the Art Resider programme – an initiative of GốcCreation and Toong to support artists to reside, work and invent in Toong spaces.

Like his previous exhibitions, all the proceeds from the sale of the Musings paintings will be used for charity activities.

“I found solace whenever I paint the brush on a canvas. Furthermore, the painting exhibitions help me fulfil my charity activities. So, for me, painting is the best healing therapy,” Văn said.

A visitor enjoys a painting by movie actor Hứa Vĩ Văn in his exhibition Vùng Thơ (Musings) in Hà Nội. — VNS Photo Thúy Hằng

A total amount of VNĐ375 million (nearly US$16,000) from the paintings sale has been used to support Khơ Me ethnic poor children in An Giang, hear-impaired children in Đà Nẵng, and the ones who were orphaned due to COVID-19 in HCM City.

Born in 1979 into a family of Chinese descent in HCM City, Văn became famous as a fashion model and singer of the music group GMC in the 2000s when he was a student at the HCM City University of Fine Arts, where he majored in painting.

In 2002, Văn won the third prize in a national competition for promising actors organised by the Việt Nam Cinema Association. His first role came in the TV series Cây Huê Xà (Huê Xà – The Snake Antivenom Plant) adapted from the short story by writer Nam Sơn.

In 2012, he was given the Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Kite Awards – Việt Nam’s most prestigious movie awards, for his role in the movie Đam Mê (The Passion) by director Phi Tiến Sơn.

In the past decade, the actor has focused solely on the big screen. His roles in high-grossing cinema movies such as Saigon Love Story, Giao Lộ Định Mệnh (Inferno), Thần Tượng (The Idol), Chàng Trai Năm Ấy (Dandelion), Em Là Bà Nội Của Anh (Sweet 20), have been applauded by both critics and audiences.

Hứa Vĩ Văn working on canvas in Toong Space. — Photo courtesy of the artist

The COVID-19 pandemic led the actor to be back to his first talent of painting for relaxation.

“There are many nights I woke up and grabbed a brush to sketch quickly on the canvas all the feelings and emotions that conquer my mind at that moment. Being able to depict those feelings has brought me a lot of joy which also has a healing effect. So I want to share this positive feeling with viewers, expecting to evoke a new and fresh motivation for them,” the actor said.

Văn said he was more comfortable when being regarded as an actor than a painter “because, for me, painting is a pastime that I can discover myself through the strokes.”

The exhibition Vùng Thơ opens to the public in Toong Space, 8 Tràng Thi Street until November 7. — VNS