Taking place from January 14 - 18, 2026, at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the second solo exhibition of painter Le Trang named "Dreams in the afternoon flower" has attracted the attention of experts and a large number of art lovers.
The exhibition introduces 36 oil paintings from four collections: Hue Heritage, Motherhood, Home, Still Life. Not intentionally recreating reality directly, Le Trang chose an emotional expression, mixing colors, shapes and inner vibrations to open up a gentle, deep painting space.
In Le Trang's paintings, the image of Vietnamese women appears gently but not faintly, carrying a spirit, temperament and cultural depth. For the female artist, painting is not only a personal story but also a way of telling about Vietnam through memories, emotions and very peaceful dreams.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition on the afternoon of January 14, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Ky - Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council cum Head of the Literary and Art Criticism Theoretical Committee - said that his first impression when entering the exhibition space was the closeness and warmth.
He commented that Le Trang's paintings clearly reflect Vietnamese people and nature, highlighting the image of a gentle, fresh woman with depth of soul.
Trees, grass, and flowers and leaves appear as part of spiritual life, creating a cultural imprint so that when painting out to the world, viewers can still recognize Vietnamese identity.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Ky, from the image of Hue Ancient Capital, traditional ao dai to graceful young women, Le Trang's paintings not only have aesthetic value but also evoke cultural depth.
In particular, the series of bird paintings leaves an impression when their eyes are always directed towards the home, as a symbol of attachment, peace and desire to return.
From a professional perspective, Ms. Mai Thi Ngoc Oanh - Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association - highly appreciates Le Trang's creative efforts and emotions in paintings.
According to her, although she is a self-taught artist, not yet formally trained, it is her sincerity and rich affection that have created a unique attraction for her works.
She said that the name of the "Dream in the Midwest" exhibition is suitable for the spirit of painting, when artists borrow images to express emotions in daily life. It is not easy for a young artist to bring his works to display in many international spaces.
In fact, since the end of 2024, Le Trang has continuously appeared at international exhibitions in London, Florence and Paris. Previously, she organized her first solo exhibition named Trang and Painting in Ho Chi Minh City, marking a serious and persistent artistic journey.
The "Dream in the Afternoon of Flowers" exhibition space brings many visitors a feeling of calming down amidst the hurried pace of urban life. When passing each painting, viewers can easily feel the gentleness in the colors, the closeness of the image of women, nature and home, as if touching their own familiar memories.
Sharing at the exhibition, Le Trang said that she pursues a multi-sensory art approach, hoping that the exhibition space will become a place to experience emotions, especially for young audiences.
The fact that her two works were selected by a museum in the UK to be displayed with images of ao dai, ao ba ba and Vietnamese heritage has become a motivation for her to continue her journey to bring Vietnamese beauty to the world.
For Le Trang, heritage is not only architecture or traditional costumes, but also spiritual values such as family, home and the bond between people and nature.
The series of paintings about birds, about women, about peaceful living spaces all revolve around the desire to preserve sustainable values amidst the turbulent pace of modern life.
