Opening of the exhibition "Sen and Kieu Cultural Space"

Visitors to

Visitors to "Lotus and Kieu Cultural Space".

Throughout history, many elegant writers have used the lotus flower to express their thoughts and temperament through poetic works of many different genres. Among the most representative faces, we must mention the great poet Nguyen Du (1766-1820), author of the literary masterpiece Truyen Kieu expressed in 3,254 six-eight verses in Nom script.

Nguyen Du skillfully used the poetic storytelling method, making it easy for many generations of readers to learn and remember, with countless metaphors showing the immense expressive power of the six-eight verse form, which is imbued with Vietnamese identity. And the lotus is one of the metaphors that the great poet used quite often in his classic works.

The exhibition "Sen and Kieu Cultural Space" is held from June 9 to June 15, 2025, organized by the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam in coordination with the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Conservation Support Fund and Senhouse Vietnam Company.

The exhibition introduces 32 calligraphy works, most of which represent unique verses in Nguyen Du's Tale of Kieu, especially verses that directly mention or evoke the image of the lotus flower with subtle metaphorical value.

Calligraphy works combine lotus images and verses from "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyen Du.

The exhibition space also introduces a portrait of the great poet Nguyen Du made from dried lotus leaves placed in a composition that helps viewers visualize the study space of a Confucian scholar, humble yet noble.

In addition, visitors can also admire some unique handicrafts associated with the lotus image as a vivid proof that "lotus culture" has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of Vietnamese people.

Visitors take photos in front of a portrait of the great poet Nguyen Du made from dried lotus leaves.

Present at the event, Professor Le Van Lan expressed: This is a very special exhibition. For the first time, there is a combination of two entities that are already very famous but exist independently: the lotus and the Tale of Kieu. The combination of these two entities brings a different feeling, both elegant and harmonious, expressing artistic, historical and cultural values.

The opening ceremony featured a special performance of the "Sac Sen Ha Thanh" ao dai collection by designer Lan Huong. The collection featured designs representing the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, corresponding to the stages in Kieu's life.

Designer Lan Huong said: The Ao Dai is a story about the life of Kieu in the poems of the great poet Nguyen Du. It is the combination of lotus, Vietnamese silk, and poems that have penetrated deeply into the minds of the Vietnamese people. Through this collection, I hope to spread the love of nature, love of all things, honor the beauty of lotus flowers, of women in general and Kieu in Nguyen Du's poems in particular.

Some ao dai collections of designer Lan Huong: