The storyteller of his village

After 40 years of being attached to Gia Lai , a mountainous region that has never ceased to be attractive for its pristine identity, painter Ho Thi Xuan Thu continues to affirm her admirable artistic labor, while connecting and inspiring young female painters here.

Pursuing traditional Vietnamese paintings

* Sculptor Pham Van Hang was moved and "surprised by your physical strength" when he visited your workshop. Why have you chosen to accompany lacquer paintings for decades?

- At first, many friends and colleagues felt sorry for me, but I still chose to pursue lacquer painting because this is a traditional Vietnamese painting, and the paintings are very durable over time. Experimenting with many different materials, I realized that this is exactly the material I was looking for.

Nữ họa sĩ Hồ Thị Xuân Thu giữ trọn tình yêu với tranh sơn mài suốt hàng chục năm qua. Ảnh: Phương Duyên — Female painter Ho Thi Xuan Thu has kept her love for lacquer paintings for decades. **Photo: Phuong Duyen**

* It is known that making lacquer paintings is hard work and requires a lot of effort, so it is considered a challenge for artists, especially women. Can you share about this?

- It is true that making lacquer paintings is very hard work. First, the artist must get used to the possibility of being allergic to paint. At first, my skin was itchy, sometimes my whole body was swollen, I had to go to the hospital for treatment, but I… persevered, then I got used to it. This type of painting has the characteristic of drying in humidity, so it also depends on "heavenly time and favorable location"; when the weather is too humid or too dry, it will be ruined, forcing me to scrape off the elaborate strokes and repaint, which is very hard work.
The hardest part of lacquer painting is polishing. You have to use all your strength and power to grind it to the right level, and then paint, sometimes up to a dozen layers. Not to mention, to pursue this style of painting, you have to “manage” many things well: time (harmoniously distributing between family and work); finance (material costs are quite expensive) and emotional flow (from the start to completion often takes a long time). Therefore, not to mention whether the painting is ugly or beautiful, just the artistic labor of lacquer painting is very valuable.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of the Central Highlands

* When mentioning the female painter Ho Thi Xuan Thu, the art-loving public immediately remembers a female painter from Hue who is passionate about the stories of the Central Highlands villages. Surely there must be a love big enough, deep enough for the village stories to be told in such a vivid and realistic way?

- The culture of the Central Highlands gradually permeated me since 1985, when I started working at the Gia Lai - Kon Tum (old) Cultural Department. In the following years, my husband, photographer Tran Phong, and I went on field trips to remote villages in the province, one taking photos, the other sketching. Sometimes, my husband and I stopped by the homes of our acquaintances in the village to cook our own meals and pick fruits from the garden. The people of the Central Highlands are so lovely and hospitable.
The beauty of the land and people here slowly touches and permeates my heart in a genuine, natural way. I see beauty everywhere, from simple life to culture, beliefs, souls... If my paintings have simplicity, freedom and strength, then that is the true value of the Central Highlands life that I feel, or I am a part of the Central Highlands.
I named my 2024 solo exhibition "Listening to the story of my village" because I considered this to be the story of my village, not the story of a Central Highlands village through the eyes of a Hue girl.

Tác phẩm Men rừng của họa sĩ Hồ Thị Xuân Thu. — Forest Men artwork by artist Ho Thi Xuan Thu.

* Among the works about the Central Highlands, which one is associated with the most memories for you?

- That is the painting Forest Men (80x200 cm), created in 2005. At that time, it was the 30th anniversary of the province's Liberation Day, I was very busy with the task of making propaganda billboards and setting up the outdoor stage. I still remember that day, the heavy rain and strong wind collapsed the main stage's billboard, so my colleagues and I had to stay up all night to rebuild the stage.
At that time, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) announced the selection of outstanding works to send to the exhibition at the APEC Summit 2005. The painting Men rung was sent and was honored to be selected.
This work was later exhibited in many other exhibitions in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Many people asked to buy this painting, but I wanted to keep it as a mark in my artistic journey.

Leave the old mold to touch the rhythm of life

* The constraints in creativity are constant for artists. However, her determination to renew herself by breaking away from familiar patterns to paint about the Central Highlands has surprised many people. There are no vibrant festivals, only scenes and simple but passionate daily activities. At the age of over 60, why is she still so determined?

- Before 2005, I composed very regularly, but then my children started to grow up and my ambition as a mother also grew. I opened an art and advertising company, working hard to provide my children with a good education. Therefore, my time for composing was greatly affected.
However, I often wonder why I don't change and renew myself? I aim to be less dependent on common patterns and decorative motifs, and focus on delving into the rhythm of movement and living space. And when I have decided to pursue something, the paintings naturally come out very "sweet". I have the feeling that if I love them, they will love me back. I often tell my students that when they start working, don't think that they are drawing to sell or to exhibit. Draw what you like first, make an effort first, then there will always be something to reap. "If a woman has worked hard, her husband will not betray her".

Tác phẩm Đêm nằm nghe kể khan của họa sĩ Hồ Thị Xuân Thu. — The work "Lying Down at Night Listening to Khan's Tale" by artist Ho Thi Xuan Thu.

* Despite being very busy, in recent years you have initiated a private exhibition for female artists in the province; the first exhibition of female artists from the North, Central and South will soon take place in Pleiku, on the occasion of October 20. Why did you choose to light a candle not only for yourself but also for many others?

- Although initiating these activities takes a lot of my time, I still want to create a playground for female artists in and outside the province. It is not only an opportunity to exchange and meet, but also a motivation for each person to have more inspiration in artistic activities. In fact, when we share warmth, we ourselves are warmed by others. I myself am connected and learn from the young generation, and am inspired by the spirit of creative work.