The cover of the art book 'Ky Mong' (The Diary of a Dream). (Photo courtesy of Kim Dong Publishing House) A new publication to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the publishing house,the poem Ky Mong (The Diary ofa Dream) has been illustrated with poetic lacquer-like paintings byGen Z painter Niayu.
The verses were composed after the poet, in his dream, reunited with his wife,who passed away three years earlier. His sorrow of being apart from hisbeloved wife and other inner emotions are eloquently presentedthroughout the poem.
However, according to literary critics, the verses not only reflect hisown emotion and sorrow but the problems and anxieties of society at the time.
Painter Niayu, born in 1997, does not claim she fully understandsthe great poet.
"In the persistent flow of the Vietnamese literature, his poetry hasovercome the barriers of time to conquer all generations. His versesalways touch my heart. And when I draw, I let myself be driven by that deepemotion. I feel I haven't painted the characters in his poetry but his soul. Withwhatever I have created, that is my feeling for the nation's cultural figureand his poetry," she said.
The 25-year-old painter, whose real name is Tran My Ngoc, was born in thesouthern province of An Giang and graduated from the HCM City Universityof Architecture, majoring in Graphic Design.
Despite her claim that she does not completely understand the poetand his poetry, the Kim Dong Publishing House disagrees.
"Niayu definitely has a certain understanding and feeling of what she hasbeen reading, thus can produce such very poetic yet romantic paintings whichcompletely match with the verses," Vo Thien Huong, who is in chargeof the publisher's communication, said at the book launch on June 12 in HCMCity.
Niayu said she felt great pressure when she needed to present the work ina fresh and creative way while preserving the original spirit of the poem.
"The paintings need to reflect Oriental culture but also have theirown distinctive features so as not to be confused with other painters'works," she said.
She says that her drawings have been influenced by the paintings of the famousVietnamese painter Le Pho, as well as Vietnamese traditional lacquer paintings.
Le Minh Quoc, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association, said that heappreciated Niayu as she chose traditional lacquer as amaterial for her paintings in the book.
"The medium totally suits the verse of great poet NguyenDu," he said.
Poet Nguyen Du was recognised as a world-famous personality by UNESCO at its37th General Assembly in Paris in 2013.
His literary masterpiece Truyen Kieu (TheTale of Kiều) is regarded as the most significant literary classic ofVietnam. The masterpiece has been translated into more than 20 languages and ischerished for its creativity, independent thinking and distillation ofVietnamese culture.
On June 17 night, a special concert inspired by his literary masterpiece willbe held at Manzi Art Space in Hanoi.
Titled Moments in The Tale of Kieu,the concert is part of conductor Do Kien Cuong's composition-performanceproject inspired by Truyen Kieu.
Featuring outstanding musicians and artists in Vietnam, the concert offersan exciting venture blending modern and traditional perspectives into a freshadaption of the epic tragedy.
Artists participating in the concert include cellists Nguyen Chanh and Mai Pham,violinist Thuy Tran, pianist Lavender, guitarist Coco, drummer ZinNguyen, percussionist Bill Mukang, and vocalist Dattie. Xam (blind busker's singing) singer ThuPhuong will also perform.
The concert will start at 8pm at Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ich street, BaDinh district./.
VNA
