80-year-old painter exhibits art dedicated to northern region

HÀ NỘI – The stunning landscapes and vibrant daily life of the mountainous northern region of Hà Giang have found expression in a multitude of oil paintings by the esteemed artist Đỗ Đức. This lively collection of artworks will be revealed to the public during an exhibition opening today at the Việt Nam National Museum of Fine Arts in Hà Nội.

The painting 'Tháng Ba ở Xín Cái' (March in Xín Cái). Photos courtesy of the artist

Titled Non Nước Biên Thùy (Borderland), the exhibition showcases more than 50 selected artworks that the 80-year-old artist created over the past two decades.

Artist Đức has woven his artistic style connected to the dense forests, meandering rivers and majestic rocky plateaus of the mountainous northern region.

In this exhibition – his seventh solo show – he pays homage to the rocky northern mountains, exploring themes that resonate with the region's stone fields, spirited horses and intimate dwellings nestled upon rugged plateaus. Highland markets come alive in his brushstrokes, and the people of these mountainous regions emerge through poignant depictions of mothers. Every work of art breathes the essence of these mountains and forests, Đức's true artistic homeland.

Each painting, including Nắng Trên Dãy Hồng Ngài (Sunlight on Hồng Ngài Range), Sương Sớm Rẻo Cao (Morning Mist in the Plateau), Sườn Phía Tây Sơn Vĩ (West Slope of Sơn Vĩ), Huyền Thoại Khau Vai (Legend of Khau Vai) and Tháng Baở Xín Cái (March in Xín Cái), serve as a vivid slice of the landscape, capturing the essence of locals' lives. Together, these paintings create a rich panorama that celebrates the region.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the artist will also unveil his art book Borderlands, showcasing 200 paintings inspired by the rocky plateau. Alongside the pieces portraying the region’s imposing landscape, a significant portion of the book is dedicated to capturing the lives of local ethnic communities, as well as their horses – the animals intricately woven into the fabric of their existence.

The collection has been created by the artist over the past 20 years.

The cover of the book 'Borderlands' that showcases 200 paintings inspired by a rocky plateau in the mountainous region of Hà Giang.

“In 1973, I first went to Hà Giang, traveling through several highland districts such as Đồng Văn and Quản Bạ for just 23 days. Since then, that border region has followed me throughout my artistic career," Đức noted.

"Over many years of field trips in the mountains, from the northwestern to the northeastern and the Việt Bắc [the region that spreads over six north-western provinces of Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Thái Nguyên and Lạng Sơn], exploring and sharing the lives of ethnic minorities, I discovered many humanistic values connecting nature with people. The reciprocal interactions from multiple perspectives helped me gradually see the depth of that relationship in my paintings. The historical connection between people and the land allows me to recreate the space of its early formation. I observed how, in the green forest, people receive gifts from rivers, plants, mountains and rocks intimately,” the artist stated in his book.

Artist Đỗ Đức, who has woven his art connected to the mountainous northern region.

Late artist Anh Thường once commented on Đức’s paintings: "It is landscape, but it has become the country's portrait, the nation's face. Looking at the paintings, one wants to step into them, seeing villages and forests full of the vitality of people. In hidden corners and turns, one can see people existing there, sheltering and making a living. Viewing the paintings, one sees that the ethnic groups have formed the values of the nation's frontier.”

On Saturday, September 14, Đức’s captivating painting Lên Nương (On the Rice Field) will be auctioned off. The starting bid stands at US$1,500, and the money raised will go toward constructing a much-needed classroom for pupils in a remote village in Hà Giang.

The painting ‘Lên Nương’ (On the Rice Field) that will be went under hammer for charity cause.

For the past 11 years, Đức has been a steadfast supporter of the charity group Hoa Của Đá (Flower of the Rock), generously donating his artworks for fundraising. Thanks to his contributions and the kindness of other individuals and organisations, thousands of ethnic school pupils in the northern region have had the opportunity to pursue their studies in sturdy, concrete classrooms.

“It’s heartwarming to see how art can make a tangible difference in education,” the artist said about why he decided to get involved with the charity.

An art talk will also take place on Saturday prior to the auction.

The exhibition Non Nước Biên Thùy will be open to the public until September 15. The Việt Nam National Museum of Fine Arts is located at 66 Nguyễn Thái Học Street in Hà Nội. VNS