Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The memories of the people, landscapes and cultural heritage ofthe former province of Son Tay, now in the west of greater Hanoi willbe revived via works by 90-year-old painter Chu Manh Chan on display at the VietnamFine Arts Museum.

Entitled Mien Ky Uc (Land ofMemories), the exhibition features 30 works, most of which are lacquer andwater colour paintings like Ca Tru (CeremonialSinging), Chua Tay Phuong (TayPhuong Pagoda) and Cong Lang (VillageGate).

The exhibition also includes the 4m x 2.5m lacquer painting entitled Hoi Chua Thay (Thay Pagoda Festival)that vividly portrays the atmosphere of the biggest festival in ancient Doai Villagewith pilgrims and traditional games in the background of a charmingmountainous area.

A collector reportedly offered 5 billion VND (217,000 USD) for the painting but Chan refused tosell it.

Speaking at his first solo exhibition, Chan said his paintings were inspired byhis memories of his hometown from adolescence to adulthood and until now.

“They are the sentiment, profound spiritual morality and the life forcenourishing my soul, and also the desire to continue the tradition of my familyand homeland.

“I want to retain all that sentiment. Now I understand that traditions andhuman affection must always be respected and preserved. That’s why I’mconstantly trying to manifest what the elderly have told me into paintings,which has given me more affection for my homeland, more strength and morepassion to forget ageing and hardships. I have retained my childhood memoriesthat will never fade," the painter said.

According to poet and painter Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chan is one of the reviversof forgotten Vietnamese cultural beauty.

“The paintings portraying the past, demonstrated by means of traditionallacquer techniques, have empowered Chan to revive ancient beauty in modernlife,” he said.

Chan was born in 1933 in Chang Son village, Thach That district on theoutskirts of Hanoi. He used to work as a lecturer at the Ha Tay School of FineArts, specialising in creating models in mosaic, lacquer, bamboo and rattan forartisans in craft villages.

In 2020, Chan was honoured with the title of 'People's Artist' for hiscontribution to traditional crafts.

Besides designing and teaching applied art, Chan is also a lacquer painter. Hehas painted many works about his hometown showcasing its charming poeticscenery and traditional festivals.

The exhibition is open until the end of April 3./.