'A Time of Youth' from the pages of a book to the drawings of a cartoon.

'A Time of Youth' is the first solo exhibition by writer and painter Dinh Tien Luyen at the age of 80, which has just opened at 3B Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City.

“A Time of Youth” displays over 70 oil paintings by writer and painter Dinh Tien Luyen, curated by Phan Trong Van. The exhibition runs from May 20th to May 27th, but nearly half of the paintings were already registered for purchase by collectors on the opening day. Those buying Dinh Tien Luyen's paintings today are also those who read his writings in the past.

Writer and painter Dinh Tien Luyen, 80 years old. Photo: Provided by the artist.

Writer and painter Dinh Tien Luyen was born in Kien Xuong, Thai Binh (now part of Hung Yen province). In 1968, writer Dinh Tien Luyen made his debut with the novel "Cloudy Stone Stream," and also began painting. In short, he pursued both literature and art throughout his life.

With a special affection for adolescence, writer Dinh Tien Luyen has written many works about that dreamy time, such as "A Drop of Pink Tears," "Homeland of Honey," "A Little Bird," "The Meeting Place of Grass," "Beloved Anh Chi," "Sunday of Lovers," "Her Childhood," "A Flock of White Birds in the Schoolyard," etc.

"The Hill of Golden Flowers" by Dinh Tien Luyen.

Furthermore, writer Dinh Tien Luyen is particularly interested in publishing for young people. Before 1975, he participated in the publication "Tuoi Ngoc" (Jade Age). From 1990, he, along with writer Doan Thach Bien, poet Do Trung Quan, and poet Pham Thanh Chuong, collaborated on the publication "Ao Trang" (White Shirt), contributing to nurturing young writers passionate about literature. Undeniably, from the publication "Ao Trang," a generation of authors born in the 1970s and 1980s matured and are now prominent figures in the literary world.

"Hoa Sua" by Dinh Tien Luyen.

In 1990, writer and painter Dinh Tien Luyen emigrated to the United States, settling in Texas, where he continued to write and paint. Returning to the southern city, he introduced his oil paintings, imbued with the poignant colors of longing and dreams.

"Dreaming" by Dinh Tien Luyen.

Curator Phan Trong Van commented: “‘A Time of Youth’ revolves around the image of people in the fragile transitional stage of life: adolescence, the age of first stirrings of emotion, both innocent and insecure. His paintings do not tell stories in the conventional sense. The characters often turn sideways, bow down, or turn their backs. The light is treated like a thin layer of mist, covering the body and space, blurring the boundary between the figure and the background. The brushstrokes are soft but not weak, the colors are restrained, leaning towards muted tones – blue, red, earthy yellow – creating a sense of stillness and restraint.”

"Silk Sunshine" by Dinh Tien Luyen.

In the exhibition "A Time of Youth," the body is no longer an object of depiction but becomes a form of emotional structure. The postures—sitting, standing, tilting heads, letting go of hands—are all kept at a moderate level, avoiding any dramatic tension. This restraint creates a subtle tension—the very essence of Dinh Tien Luyen's paintings.

"The Sad Stone Age" by Dinh Tien Luyen.

In other words, "A Time of Youth" is not a nostalgic reflection, but rather a cross-section looking directly at a period when a person is most vulnerable, yet also when their true self is most clearly formed. The exhibition is an opportunity to look back at a parallel journey between literature and painting, where the same source of emotion is expressed through two different languages, yet still shares a common axis. Stepping into the space of "A Time of Youth," it's easy to see and understand people in a state of incompleteness, full of impulsiveness, intense passion, and vulnerability.

"Autumn Gold" by Dinh Tien Luyen.

The public embraces the artwork of painter Dinh Tien Luyen, remembering the writings of author Dinh Tien Luyen. As he himself revealed, he doesn't follow any particular style or school of thought. He creates based on his feelings gained over time with pen and brush. The colors are soft and the ideas gentle, easily understood by everyone, without requiring complex artistic analysis.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/mot-thoi-tuoi-ngoc-tu-trang-van-den-net-ve-d812427.html