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Van Guillemin's "The Source" is a journey inward, where people rediscover their origins to understand, accept, and heal. Without fanfare or imposing interpretations, her paintings open up a space where viewers can slow down, listen, and confront themselves. The exhibition is an invitation to embark on an inner journey, where memories, emotions, and the invisible depths of the human psyche are gradually awakened.
“Roots” is her first exhibition in Vietnam after a series of solo exhibitions in France, Italy, and Dubai, a milestone marking her artistic journey that is gradually taking shape between the two cultural currents of East and West.
Born in Vietnam in 1994 and currently living in Paris, Van Guillemin is a contemporary artist who embodies the fusion of two cultural currents.
"The Source" does not begin from the outside, but originates from the deepest parts.
A space between the visible and the invisible.
The first impression when viewing the works of "The Source" is a feeling of suspension. The forms in the paintings are neither entirely clear nor entirely abstract; they seem to appear and then vanish, existing on the fragile boundary between memory and the present. There is no linear story, nor a single way of reading; each work is like a door, through which the viewer can enter with their own experiences and emotions.
Van Guillemin doesn't try to "explain" her paintings. On the contrary, she deliberately leaves empty space."I paint so that the viewer can see them, not me."She shared.
The "Origins" exhibition space unfolds as a journey back to one's inner self.
In that space, the boundary between the visible and the invisible blurs. Layers of color, streaks of charcoal, and overlapping organic structures create a continuous flow of emotion, both gentle and fierce, both intimate and distant.
"I always have the feeling that my soul belongs to another time, an ancient memory creeping within me, whispering through my hands, through colors, through silences. It is that very soul I give to you, painted with tenderness and passionate fire," Van Guillemin shared.
A three-chapter journey: remembering – healing – understanding
"The Origin" is structured as a journey consisting of three parts, linked together like a closed circle.
The first part, "Whispers of Memory," opens up a space of return. Not a specific location, but a return to the inner self, where the deepest layers of memory are preserved: childhood, culture, early emotions. Here, "Origin" is no longer a geographical concept, but becomes a spiritual experience.
The suspended figures in the painting evoke a sense of presence and absence.
Layers of color and texture are superimposed, creating a continuous flow of emotion.
In the second section, "Light from Wounds," the exhibition delves into deeper layers of emotion. Wounds, voids, and cracks are not concealed but presented directly, not to inflict pain, but to transform. Art here is not merely an object of contemplation, but becomes a form of spiritual "therapy."
Van Guillemin viewed painting as a form of self-healing."The wounds in the paintings don't disappear; they transform into strength, light, and beauty."She said. What's noteworthy is her approach to feminine energy: soft yet firm, fragile yet resilient, as a metaphor for the contemporary woman.
The final section, "Between Presence and Absence," places the viewer in a state of suspension. Here, the past is no longer a burden, and trauma is no longer a barrier. People stand between the two shores of existence and nothingness, to look back at themselves more completely. "The Source" is no longer something to be sought, but becomes a refuge.
The three parts of the exhibition are therefore inseparable but operate as a cycle: remembering, healing, and understanding. This is also the journey that each person, in their own way, must go through.
The visual language reflects the intersection of Western art and Eastern emotions.
Cultural exchange between East and West
Born in Vietnam in 1994 and currently residing in Paris, Van Guillemin is a contemporary artist who embodies the intersection of two cultural currents. This is clearly evident in her painting language: on one hand, the structure and thinking influenced by Western art; on the other, the emotional depth and expressiveness rich in East Asian characteristics.
From a background in law to painting, Van Guillemin chose to return to his creative instincts.
Few people know that before turning to painting, she studied international business law in Toulouse (France), a stable and secure choice. The shift to art wasn't a abandonment, but a return to herself, where emotions and creative instincts became the starting point for her personal journey. Perhaps this experience is what gives her paintings their unique narrative quality; they don't tell specific stories, but always evoke a state of mind: searching, feeling lost, and yearning to belong.
Van Guillemin's practice opens up areas of intersection between personal memory and shared experience.
"Paris gave me a perspective. Vietnam gave me emotions," she said.This intersection doesn't create conflict, but rather forms the foundation for a personal style, where opposing elements blend and complement each other.
Viewing Van Guillemin's paintings, each person will see something different, depending on their own memories, experiences, and emotional state. It could be an indescribable feeling of familiarity, a vague sadness, or simply a rare moment of stillness. And perhaps, it is precisely in letting go of the need to understand that viewers truly have the opportunity to touch upon what the exhibition aims to convey.
The female artist also stated that she wishes to delve deeper into understanding Vietnamese culture, especially in painting. For her, it's not just a way to enrich her creative material, but also a journey of self-awareness, understanding so she can tell the story, and tell it in her own way.
Colors, textures, and movement blend together, like an unnamed stream of emotion.
At a certain geographical distance, returning to culture is no longer an obligation, but a conscious choice: refining, interpreting, and bringing Vietnamese nuances into an artistic language that can dialogue with the world. And perhaps, in the end, "Roots" is not a place to return to, but something that only emerges when we are calm enough to confront ourselves.
“Origin – Origine” by artist Van Guillemin will be open to the public free of charge from April 16-26, 2026 at the Vietnam Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Cua Nam Ward, Hanoi.
