HÀ NỘI Memory takes centre stage in Japan as visitors to the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum can explore a century of Việt Nam’s modern history through "Vietnam: The Landscape of Memories," an exhibition featuring more than 110 works of fine art and graphic design.

Most of the pieces are drawn from the museum’s collection, guiding viewers through a period marked by dramatic social, political and cultural transformation.

The Fukuoka Asian Art Museum currently hosts the exhibition ‘Vietnam: The Landscape of Memories’. Photo courtesy of Japan National Tourism Organisation

The exhibition traces Việt Nam’s journey from the early 20th century to the present, beginning with works from the era of the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine.

Paintings such as Chơi Ô Ăn Quan (Playing Ô Ăn Quan Folk Game, 1931) by Nguyễn Phan Chánh and Cô Gái Đọc Sách (Girl Reading, 1940) by Lương Xuân Nhị reflect the quiet beauty of rural life and the spirit of enlightenment that shaped the country’s early modern identity.

The painting 'Cô Gái Đọc Sách' (Girl Reading, 1940) by Lương Xuân Nhị. Photo courtesy of Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

As the narrative progresses, viewers encounter powerful visual expressions of wartime resilience through propaganda posters, lacquer paintings and photographs.

Works like Bác Hồ Tới Thăm Làng (Uncle Hồ Visits the Village, 1958) by Nguyễn Khang and Hãy Đánh Thắng Như Điện Biên Phủ (Let’s Win Like Điện Biên Phủ Victory, 1972) by Nguyễn Nhi Giao evoke the collective determination and unity of the Vietnamese people during periods of national struggle.

The exhibition also reflects the country’s shift toward economic reform and global integration, capturing the emotional complexity of rapid development and the longing for a changing homeland.

Contemporary works revisit history through personal memory and lived experience, with artists such as Thảo Nguyên Phan, Trương Tân and Ngọc Nâu blending imagery, video and installation to explore the lingering effects of war and the process of healing.

The lacquer painting 'Bác Hồ Tới Thăm Làng' (Uncle Hồ Visits the Village, 1958) by Nguyễn Khang. Photo courtesy of Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

A special highlight of the exhibition is the presentation of restored silk paintings by Nguyễn Phan Chánh (1892–1984), a pioneer of modern Vietnamese art. Many of his works had deteriorated due to wartime conditions and the humid climate.

In 2007, a restoration project was launched in collaboration with the artist’s family, Japanese expert Iwai Kikuko, and the Mitani Foundation. To date, 16 silk paintings have been revived and are now preserved under optimal conditions in Japan. Among them, Trốn Tìm (Hide and Seek, 1939), Rẽ Lúa (Parting the Rice, 1960), and Cưỡi Bò Qua Sông (Riding a Buffalo Across the River, 1967) are being shown to the Japanese public for the first time in their restored original form.

The painting 'Trốn Tìm' (Hide and Seek) by master painter Nguyễn Phan Chánh has been successfully restored by a team of Japanese experts. Photo courtesy of Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

The project not only preserves Nguyễn Phan Chánh’s legacy but also serves as a cultural bridge between Japan and Việt Nam, deepening mutual understanding through shared artistic heritage.

Vietnam: The Landscape of Memories is organised by the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum with support from the Consulate General of Việt Nam in Fukuoka, and is on view in Okinawa Prefecture until November 9.

Following its run at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, the exhibition will travel to the Okinawa Prefectural Museum of Art, where it will be on view from November 22, 2025, through January 18, 2026. VNS