Paintings that were once famous

On June 27th, the opening ceremony of an exhibition of timeless classic artworks took place at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association. This collection features 50 of 300 works, the first of their kind, from overseas Vietnamese collector Vu Dinh Hai. The exhibition attracted the attention of the press, artists, collectors, and the general public.

Collector Vu Dinh Hai stands beside a portrait statue of the late photographer Lam Tan Tai. Photo: Gian Thanh Son

Standing before these paintings collected from before 1975 in South Vietnam, I was overwhelmed with emotion about the past – a mixture of nostalgia and longing. These were not just patches of color on canvas, but vivid memories of an era, of lives, and of the cultural movements and historical currents of our nation.

Perhaps what makes the exhibition special is the collection's origin – from a Vietnamese-American. In my opinion, the exhibition has created a bridge, both geographically and spiritually, between those living abroad and their homeland, between what seems lost and the desire to preserve it. Viewers are moved by the collector Vu Dinh Hai's dedication to preserving culture, saddened by the passage of time, and silently grateful that there are still people who cherish the nation's memory with all their hearts and throughout their lives.

Viewers feel as if they are encountering once-famous painters of Southern Vietnam, such as Van Den with "Playing Chess" (1960), Vu Huynh with "Abstract" (1970), Vu Huynh with "Boat Wharf" (1970), Van Phung with "Boat Wharf" (1960), Nguyen Huu Thinh with "Landscape" (1970), Nguyen He with "Horse on the Prairie" (1949), Be Ky with "The Horse-Drawn Bus Station" (1960), Ho Thanh Duc with "Husband and Wife" (1970), Ha Cam Tam with "Wild Horse" (1960), Le Chanh with "Portrait of a Young Woman" (1940), Le Minh with "Apricot Blossoms on Tet" (1937-2019), Luong The Hien with "Cold Autumn Road" (1924-1970), Nguyen Cuong with "Tet" (1925-1960), Nguyen Tri Minh with "Abstract" (1924-2010), Nguyen Van Phuong with "Blooming Melody" (1930), and Nguyen Van Phuong with "Abstract". 1960….

The atmosphere in the exhibition seems to slow down – viewers are not just “looking” but “listening” to a symphony of colors, nostalgia, and soul.

Collector Vu Dinh Hai said that these are 50 paintings from his collection of about 300 paintings on the theme of Southern Vietnamese art before 1975. He said: “I started collecting and preserving these paintings in 1982 and acquired them until 1992. When Vietnam began to open up, foreigners rushed in to collect and buy antique paintings, causing prices to rise along with the appearance of fakes, so I haven't been able to collect any more since then... However, with the desire to contribute to preserving the heritage of ancient art, I continue my passionate and beloved work both domestically and abroad…”

That was a truly touching and proud statement from the collector, and through the aforementioned art collection exhibited in his homeland, this overseas Vietnamese not only expressed his longing for his country but also proactively preserved and spread cultural values ​​– something not everyone can do in a foreign land. This is a gesture of profound gratitude to those who came before – the ancestors who laid the foundation for the rich artistic treasure of the nation.

This work acts as a bridge between the past and the present, between traditional values ​​and future generations. Art is not just something beautiful to admire, but also a memory, an identity, and the voice of the nation's soul!

Gian Thanh Son

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202506/nhung-buc-hoa-vang-bong-mot-thoi-9ab0d29/