The collection of gouache paintings 'Childhood Memories' was donated after 30 years of preservation - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

Recently, at Flamingo Dai Lai (Vinh Phuc), Mr. Tran Thanh Binh - art consultant and art collector - presented the entire collection of 35 gouache works named "Childhood Memories" to Mr. Dao Xuan Tinh, who is famous for his activities in collecting ancient mechanical heritage in Vietnam. This is the first time the collection of paintings has been made public after 30 years of preservation in its original condition.

Childhood Memories 02, composed in 1996.

The collection was created in 1995 by twin artists Le Ngoc Thanh and Le Duc Hai – prominent artists in the contemporary painting trend associated with Vietnamese cultural identity. Notably, the entire work uses traditional pigments – a painting technique that is rarely used today due to the strict requirements for accuracy and color control.

“I have kept this collection of paintings for 30 years, not because of its commercial value, but because it is a memory asset. Today, I believe that Mr. Tinh is the right person to continue the journey of spreading that value to the community.” - Mr. Tran Thanh Binh said.

Childhood Memories 13, composed in 1996.

The content of the series revolves around familiar images: red-tiled roofs, street vendors, grapefruit flower drying yards, children herding buffalo, mothers in the countryside and symbolic aspects of rural life. Although it does not refer to specific historical events or figures, the way it is expressed has many visual and emotional layers, reminiscent of a period of transformation in Vietnamese society at the end of the 20th century.

“Childhood memories in paintings are not memories of an individual, but are shared slices of a generation. Looking at paintings is like looking back at yourself in an artistic mirror,” - Mr. Dao Xuan Tinh shared.

Childhood Memories 14, composed in 1996.

The fact that Mr. Tran Thanh Binh – a master in the art world – gave a set of paintings to Mr. Dao Xuan Tinh – a person outside the art world but with a background in professional collecting and organizing exhibitions – shows an open mindset about how art is preserved, shared and spread in the community.

“We don’t want the paintings to just be hung in the gallery. I want to bring the paintings closer to life, where those memories can live on in the eyes of viewers, even those who are not artists,” - Mr. Tinh added.

During the presentation ceremony, the first 6 paintings in the collection were introduced to the public. Although not named, each work left a strong visual impression thanks to its symbolic and emotional expression. One painting depicts a cat playing with a fish with familiar folk brushstrokes; another haunts with the image of a woman with quiet eyes and a minimalist composition. Scenes of a porch covered with grapefruit flowers or children playing with buffalo in the field also appear in some works, recreating the atmosphere of the Northern countryside with rustic and liberal brushstrokes.

Childhood Memories 22, composed in 1996.

Childhood Memories 29, composed in 1996.

All paintings are kept in their original pigments, framed and preserved according to high archival standards. The rest of the collection is expected to be introduced in a special exhibition space organized by Mr. Dao Xuan Tinh in the near future.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/bo-suu-tap-tranh-bot-mau-ky-uc-tuoi-tho-duoc-trao-tang-sau-30-nam-luu-giu-5047331.html