Literature through soil and fire

An Vũ |

Known as a "phenomenon" of Vietnamese literature in the Doi Moi period, writer Nguyen Huy Thiep (1950 - 2021) left a unique mark in his works, especially in the short story genre.

But there is a field that perhaps not many people know, that in addition to writing, writer Nguyen Huy Thiep also paints. The autumn-art ceramic discs, painted by relatives and friends from twenty years ago by the writer, were presented to the public for the first time along with many ceramic works by the artists, at the exhibition "Gom Thiep Ceramics" launched on April 4, 2025.

The exhibition consists of nearly 100 works (ceramic dishes, ceramic vases) drawing mainly yeast on Bat Trang ceramic. The main inspiration of 41 artists and works is the words and poems of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep. The compact words sometimes hide, sometimes spread on the surface of the bottle, ceramic plate, highlighting the image of natural and humans.

During his lifetime, writer Nguyen Huy Thiep wrote many genres, short stories alone have 3 outstanding topics: rural areas, mountains and forests and urban life. On any topic, nature has its place in literature (even if it is a point of beauty) besides the hard story of human life.

Rivers, moon, forests, mountains, ban flowers, eels... are always there despite the rain and wind that have affected their fates and lives. The alertness and sharpness of the literary writer is always steadfast and decisive, and there are times when it is "soft" in the face of a color of flowers, a scent of scent, a rain - no matter how hidden.

Nguyen Huy Thiep dares to speak directly about "in front of his eyes" that the writers before him and in his lifetime did not say; but the profound soul of poetry hidden in him is not easy to lose.

In each short story of a writer, among many characters, there is always a different, outstanding and lonely character. Loneliness is not because they cannot dialogue with others, on the contrary, dialogue goes on continuously - but even in that continuity, the loneliness is still standing firm - and the writer himself often cannot break it.

Tac phẩm “Dưa sao sang sông” cua hoa si Dăng Tiến.
The work "Bringing the flute to the river" by artist Dang Tien.
Tac phẩm “Tâm hồn me” cua hoa si Ha Huy Mười.
The work "Mother's soul" by artist Ha Huy Muoi.

Literary language and painting language have their own way of expression. When the symbols of letters are specified in the form of images, colors, lines, etc., each artist brings a unique form of expression.

The ceramic works on display are a sympathy between the artist and the writer, a harmony, and an addition of literature and painting. To paint a van ban or poem, the artist must not only have his own talent, but also see himself in that literature.

The person who found himself and Hoa Ban: "Hey flower, a thousand years ago, are you so white ..."/ "Hey Hoa Ban, a thousand years later, are you so white ...?" - The story "The sawn workers", the people who absorbed "the rain and the male", the person who saw the "salt of the forest", the one who asked "the mountain is not that. The river is why ..." - the story "Sword Sac", the person who questioned "what is the soul is ...", the contemplative "all is naturally adjusted ..." - The story "Living is easy" ... Finally recognizing, writing or drawing to each other, to make his heart come to life, to make his heart come to life.

If you are interested in Nguyen Huy Thiep's literature, the list must be long, but if you are not interested in his literature, no one can guarantee that there will be no. In ceramic works, some people like this plate more than that plate, this bowl more than that - that is very normal.

But if each person comes to see, leaves and still remembers a few lines, a few vases, a plate of ceramic and looks to read/reads short stories, ensembles, plays, and poems of the writer or looks to see more works of ceramic painters, then that person will find many other things.

Every person born in life has something to offer, the writer makes others think of it, the painter makes paintings for those who are passionate about them, some know how to enjoy what others have written and painted... with respect, then the loneliness in each person is small. Still knowing that living is not easy, knowing that living is more difficult, but cherishing the life that heaven and earth give you will see: Living is the luck of human life.

The exhibition "Gom Thiep" celebrating the 75th anniversary of the birth of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep (1950 - 2025) was jointly organized and curated by Nguyen Huy Thiep Art Space and Gallery39.

Of the nearly 100 display works, in addition to the ceramic plates of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep, there are also ceramic works of 41 other artists: Le Tri Dung, Do Dung, Phan Cam Thuong, Nguyen Quang Thieu, Dang Xuan Hoa, Ha Tri Hieu, Tran Vinh, Cao Linh, Quach Dong Phuong, Le Thiet Cuong, Dang Tien, Dinh Quan, Dao Hai Phong, Dinh Cong Dat, Doan Hoang Kien, Tran Thang, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Minh Hieu, Nguyen Quoc Thang, Nghia Pham, Nguyen Dinh Vu, Ha Huy Muoi, Le Minh Duc, Nguyen Xuan Hoang, Nguyen Tu, Tran Nhat Minh, Phan Minh Chau, Nguyen Thu Thuy, Phan Huyen Thu, Phuong Binh, Le Thi Minh Tam, Ly Tran Quynh Giang, Binh Nhi, Nguyen Giang Chau, Pham Thuy Tien.

The exhibition takes place from April 4 to 20, 2025 at the 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Artistic Center, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

After finishing in Hanoi, the exhibition will continue to be displayed in Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.

An Vũ
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