When Saigonese people paint Hanoi streets

With the deep affection of a Southerner for the capital city, artist Hoang Phong has created an impressive series of watercolor paintings about Hanoi titled "A Little Love Sent to the City," expressing his profound love for the land that nurtured his creative inspiration.

Passionate love for Hanoi

Artist Hoang Phong (1987) currently lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City. He is a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association and a member of the International Watercolor Society (IWS). To date, he has been pursuing fine arts and painting for 13 years.

Born and raised in Saigon, and never considering moving north, Hoang Phong finally had the opportunity to visit Hanoi for the first time at the end of 2017. Since then, he has fallen deeply in love with the capital city. This love doesn't stem from literature, poetry, or the opinions of others; it's a deeply subjective and personal love.

"I love every street corner, every road, every familiar way of life, and the old images that are still clearly preserved. In particular, I am fascinated by Hanoi's architecture, the buildings and villas in the Old Quarter... Or the atmosphere of the early morning, or after 10 pm, the streets are quiet and truly peaceful! Since 2017, I have regularly visited Hanoi to fully experience the weather through its four distinct seasons and explore the twelve characteristic flower seasons. My love is so great that it cannot be expressed in words, so I would like to use the perspective of a Southerner to paint and preserve a little bit of my affection for the city," emphasized artist Hoang Phong.

For Hoang Phong, it is the love for the simplest things that motivates him to regularly fly to Hanoi every year. Therefore, he has the opportunity to fully experience the distinct changes in Hanoi's atmosphere through the four seasons, as well as admire the twelve characteristic seasonal flowers.

"A touch of love sent to the city" through each emotionally charged brushstroke.

In each of artist Hoang Phong's works, the primary medium is watercolor. According to him, the characteristic of this medium is that it dries quickly, allowing the artist to capture their emotions quickly without having to wait. However, watercolor also presents considerable challenges because it is a medium where "the brushstroke is fatal." Careful planning is needed before painting, otherwise it will take a lot of time; for some paintings, he has to plan for about six months before he begins to paint.

"Instead of just seeing Hanoi through books and films, I use my own real-life experiences to breathe 'soul' into each work of art. I am fascinated by Hanoi, from its simple things to its daily life. In addition, Hanoi bears the strong imprint of the French colonial era, clearly shown through the architectural characteristics of schools, private villas, museums, and government agencies," the male artist said.

Artist Hoang Phong is meticulous in his composition, color coordination, and the spirit of Hanoi he wants to convey. With his free-flowing brushstrokes and deep emotions about Hanoi, his paintings have touched the hearts of many. He says that creating the essence in a painting requires many elements, but the most important is the artist's genuine feeling towards what they are painting. By being true to themselves, the uniqueness of the artwork will naturally be expressed.

Looking at his paintings, one feels as if they are seeing a vibrant capital city, touching every ray of sunlight, immersing in the sounds, and savoring the flavors of Hanoi in autumn. The roadside stalls, a street corner with an ancient house, the charming Hoan Kiem Lake, Phung Hung Street intersecting Hang Ma Street, Hang Be Market, Cau Go Alley, Cua Bac Church... all appear in the paintings with the exhilarating beauty of nostalgia.

Artist Hoang Phong shared: "I paint with the emotions and perspective of a son of the South to depict and preserve the charm in every street corner, and I want to encapsulate all my feelings and send them to the capital." To this day, Hoang Phong's series of paintings about Hanoi remains incredibly popular and is loved by a wide audience, including Saigon residents who love Hanoi.

“For me, Hanoi has countless things to explore, and I think I will remain connected to this land for a long time. I always hope to introduce to everyone a familiar, affectionate, and ancient Hanoi. I also hope that the buildings here will be preserved over time so that future generations will not only experience Hanoi through paintings, photographs, or stories,” artist Hoang Phong further shared.

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.

Phuong Thao