Painter Thu Tran brings Nguyen Huy Thiep's poem, 'Xong chu xon xao' to pay tribute to Son La

At Son La City Square, Son La Province on the evening of October 9, between two old stilt houses covered with fabric, silk, paintings, and giant colorful rolls of silk, artist Tay Phong performed Nguyen Huy Thiep's poetry and the poem 'Xong chu xon xao'.

Two stilt houses were built into works of art, artists participated in the program at the opening ceremony on the evening of October 9 - Photo: YEN KHUONG

This is the opening performance of the exhibition Xong chu xon xao - a program combining performance, installation, and art exhibition as part of a series of activities celebrating the 130th anniversary of the founding of Son La province (October 10, 1895 - October 10, 2025).

Nguyen Huy Thiep, Xong chu xon xao and Thai women embroidering

Originating from artist Thu Tran - a person born in Son La and has been attached to this land for many years, artists Tay Phong, Le Thi Minh Tam, Nguyen Tran Thao Nguyen came together to create a special art program to show gratitude to the land that has given them many nutrients to nurture their artistic souls.

The program combines performance art, installation art and painting. The performance part only takes place on the opening evening of 9-10.

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online, artist Thu Tran said that Tay Phong performed the "specialty" of Thai literature - the poem Xong chu xon xao (Farewell to the lover), along with verses from the short story Love story told in the rainy night by Nguyen Huy Thiep on the background of traditional Thai music with hat xap (traditional singing of the Thai people) and jew's harp, mixed with contemporary music.

Tay Phong also performed poems by Thu Tran written for the land of Son La that she always loved and was grateful for.

When the touching verses about a sad love story of Nguyen Huy Thiep resonated in the mist and wind of Son La, where he had spent 10 years, absorbing from it the nutrients that nurtured his illustrious literary career, the children of Son La realized that the talented writer was also a son of the women here.

Artist Thu Tran said that every time she reads those poems by Nguyen Huy Thiep, she trembles because of the beauty in the way Nguyen Huy Thiep writes about love and human pain.

Artist Tay Phong performs Xong chu xon xao poetry with traditional Thai singing - Video : YEN KHUONG

5 giant silk reels will be displayed at the exhibition - Photo: NVCC

Impressive images in the installation exhibition Xong chu xon xao - Photo: NVCC

The return of painter Thu Tran

After the opening ceremony, the public continued to enjoy the beautiful and colorful Thai cultural space.

Two old stilt houses, which used to be the houses of the local people, were brought together to create a work of art. The two stilt houses are covered with paintings and red thread stitching, from the roof to the ground.

Inside the house are "phums" (a part of the loom of the Thai people in the Northwest) used as picture frames, hung with shuttles imprinted with the skillful fingerprints of Thai women weaving silk that Thu Tran collected from Son La villages over many years.

To prepare for the Pieu Du art project, artist Thu Tran spent many days sewing, with the help of many Thai sisters - Photo: NVCC

The old pillars bear the handprints of ancestors, the worn steps bear the footsteps of mothers, the torn walls are patched with embroidery. The space is filled with the colors of the mountains and forests of Thu Tran, Le Thi Minh Tam, Nguyen Tran Thao Nguyen’s paintings, the melodies and lyrics of the songs, the sounds of the mouth harp…

Those beautiful honors of Thai art and culture are the hearts of artist Thu Tran and her colleagues to express gratitude to the land that has become the place where the art tree in her took root.

Her hometown is in the old Doai region (now Hanoi), but fate brought Thu Tran to grow up in Son La, get married, have children, and teach art for many years here.

According to researcher Phan Cam Thuong, it was Son La with the culture of the Thai people and other ethnic groups that gave artist Thu Tran her first knowledge of life. The mountain people, the joys and sorrows, the mountain scenery… all are the first necessary sources of life for an artist.

After leaving Son La, like a tree that has taken root there, Thu Tran seems to have never really left this land. The artist still travels frequently between Son La - Hoa Binh - Hanoi. That road is like a lifeline in her body, nurturing the artist's soul in her.

And this time she returns with a passionate art program Xong chu xon xao.

Paintings by Nguyen Tran Thao Nguyen participated in the event

Paintings by artist Thu Tran on display at the exhibition

Thu Tran was born in 1970 and won first prize in painting from the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (2014). Her paintings are highly appreciated by seniors such as Ly Truc Son, Phan Cam Thuong... for their passionate and pure love for art.

BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoa-si-thu-tran-mang-tho-nguyen-huy-thiep-xong-chu-xon-xao-tri-an-son-la-20251008220823321.htm