Telling the story of Hanoi streets at the "Home" exhibition by artist Hoang Dinh.

The "Home" exhibition, featuring 36 works, was held to celebrate artist Hoang Dinh's 70th birthday, focusing on the shared theme of memories of Hanoi and family. The exhibition also includes works by his children: Hoang Minh Thuy, Hoang Chuc Anh, Hoang Nguyen Khanh Linh, and Hoang Khanh Nguyen.

Artist Hoang Dinh has launched a series of 15 new oil and lacquer paintings depicting Hanoi streets – fresh and energetic "visual signals." His four children, all talented painters, have contributed 21 oil paintings of landscapes, abstract art, and portraits, all imbued with tenderness, innocence, and poetic beauty.

Sharing his thoughts on the exhibition's message with Travellive, artist Hoang Dinh said: "The theme of this exhibition is to present a new style of expressing Hanoi. Although many artists have painted about this city, I still want to bring you a Hanoi that is uniquely special. Therefore, I use visual cues so that people can feel Hanoi, not just admire and look at it."

The exhibition 'Home' has a broader meaning, encompassing my own home. For me, "home" is family, a warm and welcoming home. It's where I spent years living with my family and children, where my children have beautiful childhood memories, and where they grew up and succeeded on their own paths. Even when far from home, they always remember their family; even when they stumble and feel sad, they overcome it – that's what home is. The visual cues I want to use here are for people to experience for themselves. At some point, they might find themselves in those dreams, reminiscing about their family, the past, the simple working people, or even the most ordinary people... they still manage to overcome challenges and regain their balance."

Reportedly, songs about Hanoi are an important source of inspiration in the series of paintings of Hanoi streets by artist Hoang Dinh.

He expressed the connection between painting and music in his artworks through many pieces: Peaceful Street, Green Street, Sunrise on the Street, Street Lights, Floating Tiled Roofs, Narrow Street, Crape Myrtle Flowers, Ancient Fish Road...

Commenting on the series of paintings exhibited by artist Hoang Dinh, poet and critic Dang Than wrote: "Hanoi, as depicted in Hoang Dinh's paintings, is no longer the 'gentle scenes' commonly seen in most people's work, but rather captivating and dreamy 'visual signals' projected from a truly skillful 'abstract surrealist' eye."

Artist Hoang Dinh was born in 1953. He graduated from vocational and university programs at the University of Industrial Fine Arts, and holds a Master's degree in Art & Design from the Netherlands. He taught Graphic Design at the Open University for 19 years. The artist has been passionate about painting since childhood and has continuously practiced painting alongside his graphic design work. Hoang Dinh has also participated in numerous group exhibitions and organized successful solo exhibitions. He has received many art awards both domestically and internationally; many of his works are preserved in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Austria, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The "Home" exhibition will take place from March 18th to March 28th, 2023 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hanoi, and admission is free.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Text and photos: Phuong Thao