A painting by artist Tú Duyên will be displayed at Annam Gallery. Photo courtesy of Annam Gallery

HÀ NỘI - A retrospective exhibition of the late artist Tú Duyên (1915 - 2012) will open on March 1 at Annam Gallery in HCM City. 

The exhibition Of Scented Reverie showcases 18 artworks, including creations on silk alongside a series of paintings employing the renowned hand-stamped print technique of the artist.

Of Scented Reverie is inspired by the woodblock printing technique, combined with the use of hands to mix and layer varying intensities of colours.

These techniques were meticulously researched and innovated by the artist under the name thủ ấn họa over 80 years ago.

The exhibition evokes a nostalgic, gentle and poetic space, with aesthetic subjects including various flowers alongside beautiful Vietnamese women, gracefully adorned in traditional áo dài, accompanied by traditional musical instruments.

The lotus, the sunflower and the lily are the artist's favourite flowers, recurring prominently in his paintings, depicted from various perspectives. There are budding pink lotuses stretching eagerly, awaiting their blossoming amidst a pond, or resilient and robust sunflowers standing against the wind. Also featured is a vase of vibrant and lightly fragrant lilies placed beside the solemn figure of the Buddha.

These floral motifs symbolise beauty, elegance and gentleness, reflecting the graceful and refined demeanour of Vietnamese women as portrayed skilfully by the artist via juxtaposing floral imagery with beautiful Vietnamese women clad in flowing áo dài in his paintings.

The artist, real name Nguyễn Văn Duyến, was born in the pottery village of Bát Tràng in Hà Nội. He was a student at the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine from 1935-1942. He moved to Sài Gòn in 1942, making silk and paper Đông Hồ folk prints from finger-painted woodblocks. His work is considered as having given new dimensions to traditional thủ ấn họa hand stamp paintings.

The HCM City Museum of Fine Arts currently exhibits his work including nine paintings on canvas and 52 wood carving plaques. 

Of Scented Reverie exhibition will run until March 31 at 371/4 Hai Bà Trưng, Võ Thị Sáu Ward, District 3, HCM City. The exhibition is open from 9am to 8pm with entrance fee VNĐ70,000/person. - VNS