LIVING LEGEND: The oil painting Bến Bình Yên (Peace on the River) is displayed at the exhibition called Quê Hương (Homeland) by People’s Artist, movie star and painter Trà Giang. The event celebrates Vietnamese Women’s Day on October 20. — Photo courtesy of Maii Art Space

HCM CITY — Oil paintings featuring life and love by People’s Artist and movie star Trà Giang are displayed at the Maii Art Space in HCM City.

The exhibition, called Quê Hương (Homeland), opened on October 20 to celebrate Vietnamese Women’s Day.

It introduces 25 vivid works selected from the latest collections by Giang, one of the country’s first and leading movie actresses.

Highlighted paintings feature the beauty of Vietnamese landscapes and flowers.

Traditional culture and lifestyle are also included.

“Giang’s art reflects her love for life and people. Her impressions of nature are displayed in her paintings,” said author Trần Nhã Thụy of HCM City, a member of the exhibition’s organising board. “I believe Giang has found recognition for her painting.”

TALENTED STAR: People’s Artist, movie star and painter Trà Giang loves capturing the beauty of Vietnamese landscapes, flowers and women. — Photo courtesy of Maii Art Space

Giang was born in Quảng Ngãi Province.

She was sent to study at the Việt Nam Cinematography School in Hà Nội in 1959. She began her career when she was at school.

Her first film was Một Ngày Mùa Thu (The First Day of Fall), a production by Huy Vân, one of the country’s most talented movie directors.

She later became a famed artist in the 1970s, working with talented directors and producers.

Giang played a southern woman during the American War in both Vĩ Tuyến 17 Ngày Và Đêm (Parallel 17 Days and Nights) by People’s Artist Hải Ninh and Chị Tư Hậu (Mrs. Tư Hậu) by People’s Artist Phạm Kỳ Nam. Both films are recognised as canons of Việt Nam's revolutionary movies.

Thanks to her roles in these works, Giang won the best actress prize at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1963 and 1973.

Giang began her love for painting in 1999 after her husband, music professor Nguyễn Bích Ngọc, passed away.

Giang’s close friends, professional painters Lê Thị Thoa, Mai Trực and Quang Luân, influenced her.

She studied painting at training courses offered by the HCM City University of Fine Arts.

Her first solo exhibition, Hè Về (Summer Comes Back), opened in HCM City in 2006, and since then, she has organised dozens of solo and group exhibitions.

Her featured works portray moutainous areas and local women and children.

"I work like a kid with fresh love and enthusiasm for art,” said the 85-year-old Giang, in a recent interview with local media.

The 10-day exhibition Quê Hương will close on October 30 at 72/7 Trần Quốc Toản Street, District 3. — VNS