Traditional culture through the eyes of a child.

Amidst the exhibition space at the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam National Special Monument, children's paintings emerge as vivid glimpses of Vietnam's cultural heritage. Without elaborate techniques, many works still captivate viewers with the sincerity in the way the children perceive and depict the nation's precious heritage.

The public visits the exhibition of works from the "Heritage Through My Eyes" competition.

In one corner of the exhibition, the artwork "The Soul of the Puppets Awakens Amidst the Vietnamese Water" by Pham Ngoc Bao (born in 2014) vividly recreates the art of water puppetry, a unique form of Vietnamese folk theater. The painting stands out with its vibrant colors, depicting a brightly lit water puppet stage. At the center is a traditional water pavilion with puppet characters bearing cheerful, friendly faces. Surrounding them are children eagerly enjoying the performance, creating a lively and distinctly folk atmosphere.

Through innocent yet emotionally rich drawings, the artwork expresses the young artist's love for traditional art, while also conveying a desire to preserve the nation's long-standing cultural values.

Pham Ngoc Bao shared: “I find Vietnamese heritage very beautiful and familiar. Through this painting, I want to express my love for the traditional values ​​that have been preserved and passed down through many generations. At the same time, I also want people to understand and appreciate traditional art forms more.”

Not far away, the painting "The Flow of Vietnamese Studiousness" by Nguyen Minh Anh (born in 2015) brings a tranquil yet proud atmosphere. Prominently featured at the center is Khue Van Cac, the symbol of the Temple of Literature - National University. Surrounding it are images of doctoral steles, stone turtles, and an old classroom with a teacher and students diligently practicing calligraphy.

The artwork won the "Impressions of the Temple of Literature" award. Nguyen Minh Anh shared: "The painting depicts the transmission and development of Vietnam's precious tradition of studiousness from the past to the present and future. I hope the painting will help people love our heritage even more and give them more motivation to study and create."

Children take souvenir photos at the exhibition area.

The exhibition attracted many parents and visitors who lingered for quite a while in front of each artwork. Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha (born in 1980, residing in Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi ) shared: “Looking at the paintings, I was very surprised that children today can understand and appreciate heritage in such a profound way. I think the most valuable thing is that the children have begun to take an interest in traditional culture with natural curiosity and love.”

In that vibrant space, heritage is no longer a rigid concept but appears intimately close through the eyes of children. Village communal houses, festivals, old classrooms, and the sounds of traditional music all become material for the children to tell stories about traditional culture.

Spreading love for heritage through an art playground.

The "Heritage Through My Eyes" competition was organized by the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giám Cultural and Scientific Activities Center in collaboration with Art Tree Art Workshop and the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). The competition received approximately 400 artworks from children and teenagers aged 4 to 15, both domestically and internationally. The children used various materials such as crayons, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, and colored paper to express their perspectives on Vietnamese heritage.

From historical architecture and folk festivals to everyday cultural life, each artwork tells its own story. Some students choose to recreate familiar landmarks like the Temple of Literature and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel; others draw inspiration from folk art, beliefs, or traditional activities in daily life.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi An, Senior Lecturer at the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), and Head of the Judging Panel for the competition, the quality of this year's works shows the serious investment and increasingly profound understanding of cultural heritage by the children.

Some of the works also demonstrate a good ability to tell stories through images, skillfully incorporating messages about preserving and promoting heritage in modern life. It is the naturalness of children's emotions that gives this year's exhibition its unique vitality.

"Many of the artworks go beyond simple, naive drawings and feature well-structured compositions, harmonious colors, and clear ideas. What's valuable is that the children approach heritage from a fresh, emotionally rich perspective," commented Ms. Tran Thi An.

The judging panel, comprised of experts in the fields of fine arts and heritage, worked diligently and objectively to select outstanding works based on criteria of creativity, relevance to the theme, and humanistic value.

Mr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giám Cultural and Scientific Activities Center, expressed: “Through this competition, love for heritage is naturally spread to the younger generation. This is also a way to awaken awareness of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values ​​in today's life.”

Through the innocent drawings of the children, the "Heritage Through My Eyes" competition reveals something precious: today's children are not turning their backs on heritage. On the contrary, they are seeking to enter the world of traditional culture through their imagination, curiosity, and pure, innocent love.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/net-ve-tre-tho-ke-chuyen-di-san-1039348