Hà Nội is an endless source of inspiration for artist Trần Thanh Thục. Photos courtesy of the artist

by Lương Hương

Artist Trần Thanh Thục’s affection for the homeland, particularly the capital city of Hà Nội, will be depicted in her fabric artworks exhibited at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum from April 2-8.

The exhibition, entitled Nghe Vải Kể Chuyện (Listen to Fabric’s Tales), will showcase 75 fabric artworks of various sizes and themes. Each piece will take viewers on an emotional journey to various localities across Việt Nam, from Sa Vĩ Cape in the northern province of Quảng Ninh to Cà Mau Cape in the southernmost province of Cà Mau.

This is the third solo exhibition of the artist, who has exclusively used one material over the past 45 years - pre-printed colours on fabric pieces - to create unique artistic fabric pictures. 

For the first time, large-scale landscape pictures will be displayed, a new challenge for the artist.

For the first time, two large landscape pieces measuring 200cm x 90cm will be displayed, a significant challenge for the artist due to the intricate nature of the landscapes, which are created from small, pre-printed fabric pieces applied to hundreds of different fabrics.

Challenging herself with greater artistic obstacles at this third solo exhibition shows that, for the 65-year-old, “The footsteps are still not weary, dreams continue unabated, and the colours of fabric remain captivating.”

While the first two solo exhibitions focused on themes inspired by Hà Nội, this exhibition will broaden its scope to include contemporary topics, such as environmental protection. 

An artwork on a new theme for the artist Trần Thanh Thục, the environment.

"I have always been inspired by three main themes—Hà Nội, the mountainous areas, and childhood memories—recurring yet each time infused with a new nuance and perspective. The only constant is the enduring love that remains," the artist told Việt Nam News.

"The main theme that fascinates me the most is Hà Nội, a land so beautiful, sacred and deeply connected to me. I just want to keep depicting Hà Nội, my source of inspiration. Sometimes, I have to temper it, or else its influence might spill over into too many other topics.

"I am beginning to explore new directions, focusing on social issues such as the environment, life, the role of women and our responsibility towards society, the environment, and life itself."

Visitors to the exhibition, especially children, can gain hands-on experience by making their own fabric artwork in a workshop guided by the artist herself.

"It's essential to nurture a love for nature, for the overlooked treasures surrounding us, allowing children to see beauty from every angle—not just through screens or paint on canvas. This workshop aims to ignite a passion for art, to celebrate the vibrant colours and the joy of creation.

"I want children to look at what seems discarded and see potential, to infuse it with their own passion and imagination, to reconnect with their childhood, away from the digital world," the artist said. 

The artist has been working with this unique fabric art form for the past 45 years, after being inspired by chance, but continues to innovate too.

Thục accidentally discovered that fabric could also be used as a material for art and has been persistently pursuing her own artistic path for 45 years. She has established a reputation as the only artist in Việt Nam creating large-scale ethereal landscape pictures from fabrics.

Unlike other materials like oil or gouache paintings, these are created from layers of fabric and have unexpected effects in terms of both colour and obviously texture. Each of Thục’s pictures has been highly valued not only for its sophisticated materials and creative ideas but also for the hours of dedication she puts into each of her artwworks. OVIETNAM.VN/VNS