VietNamNet Bridge – An exhibition by an overseas artist Pham Thi Doan Thanh, titled Ban Lang Trong Thung Lung (Villages in Mountain Valleys), has opened last Friday at the Viet Nam Ethnology Museum in Ha Noi.

The majesty of the minorities: On display at the Viet Nam Ethnology Museum in Ha Noi are works by Vietnamese-German artist Pham Thi Doan Thanh.

After studying painting for 12 years in Viet Nam, Thanh relocated to Germany, but always remained inspired by the landscape of her home country.

The exhibition reflects the evolution of her paintings from 1972 to 2008, working both from Viet Nam and abroad.

“Living far from home, I always remembered the beauty of the country,” she says, “I found that rural and mountainous areas attract me and urge me to paint.”

“Sometimes, I’m bored with noisy cities and busy life and, in turn, I always feel peaceful and happy when I think about and paint the beauty of unpretentious people and the pure nature of mountainous areas.”

Though the majority of Thanh’s work is focused on northern Viet Nam, she will also introduce paintings of Germany’s Zittau Village, drum dancing in the Central Highlands and the Hoi An Old Quarter.

“Thanh combines western realism with the traditional rural art of Viet Nam,” remarks Associate Professor Vo Quang Trong, director of the Viet Nam Ethnology Museum. “She’s very successful at expressing vital and optimistic ethnic people.”

The artist uses various mediums, including silk and do (poonah) paper for oil and watercolour painting.

Irish visitor Dan Flitterwick was impressed by the artist’s skilful depiction of ethnic women.

“I love the women’s peach-coloured cheeks and white skin,” he says, “such lively portraits.”

“Using just several smooth strokes for trees and leaves, the artist makes viewers feel the wind blowing,” Flitterwick says, “it’s not easy to paint the wind.”

Though this is Thanh’s first exhibition in her native country, she has had a number of international solo exhibitions in Germany, Austria, Russia and China.

The show will run through December at the Viet Nam Ethnology Museum, Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Ha Noi.

Thanh’s web page can be found at www.doan-thanh.vietnam-infothek.de.

(Source: Viet Nam News)