HÀ NỘI — Three of Hà Nội’s foremost artists have skillfully expressed their deep affection for their beloved city through their captivating artworks.

Created by painter Lê Thiết Cương, sculptor Đinh Công Đạt and writer Nguyễn Việt Hà, the representations include 150 sculpted masks made from ceramic and papier-mâché in an exhibition entitled Mặt Khác (Otherwise).

A visitor takes photos of the masks in the collection ‘Pagoda Faces’ by painter Lê Thiết Cương. — VNS Photos Thúy Hằng

The trio shared that after three decades of close friendship, they felt a need to create something together.

“With each person's individual success in our respective fields of literature and art, choosing a theme that could unite us was both easy and challenging,” said painter Cương.

They decided to incorporate traditional elements and familiar techniques into their works.

“Writing classic sentences, the names of ancient streets and traditional patterns on the masks, made from papier-mâché, ceramics and even gold, created a profound connection and celebrated the ancient values of Hà Nội,” Cương explained.

Writer Hà draws inspiration from the labyrinthine alleys of Hà Nội, where every cobblestone whispers stories. His chosen theme, Street Faces, captures not only faces but also the fragments of life that dance through the city’s veins.

The trio artists, from left, writer Nguyễn Việt Hà, sculptor Đinh Công Đạt, and painter Lê Thiết Cương.

For painter Cương, Buddhism is both muse and compass. His brush strokes echo the serenity found within temple walls. Pagoda Faces emerge – a testament to faith, philosophy and the quietude in the urban clamour.

Sculptor Đạt, nurtured amid Hà Nội’s vibrant markets, breathes life into his creations – an ode to chaos and vitality. His collection, Market Faces, not only conjures the familiar hustle of ancient stalls but also illuminates the contrasts between tradition and age.

According to artist Cương, Hà Nội transcends mere urbanity, it is an intangible cultural heirloom – an unwritten symphony of values that defy the erosion of time.

“Hà Nội thrives as a vibrant cultural entity. Its essence resides not in bricks and mortar, but in the whispers of tradition, the melodies of memory and the soulful preservation woven by its people,” he said.

The trio of artists has chosen to channel all proceeds from their artwork sales toward the Bầu Ơi Thương Lấy Bí Cùng Fund, administered by the An Ninh Thủ Đô (Capital Security) newspaper, which will go to help those hurt by Typhoon Yagi.

The collection ‘Market Faces’ by sculptor Đinh Công Đạt, not only conjures the familiar hustle of ancient stalls but also illuminates the contrasts between tradition and age.

"Over the last days, we have witnessed the immense suffering and loss of our fellow citizens in the mountainous northern provinces. We decided that this art project is no longer just a playground for the three of us. It must be a specific activity to work together with the entire community to alleviate some of the difficulties and losses that the people in the storm-affected areas are facing," sculptor Đạt said.

The exhibition is taking place at the Centre for Culture and Art, 22 Hàng Buồm Street, until October 11. — VNS