Hanoi (VNA) – The Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) complex in Hanoi kicked off an exhibition called "Quoc Tu Giam in Art" on July 5, celebrating 950 years of Vietnam's first national university in colour, canvas and creativity.
Deputy Director of its culture and science centre Nguyen Van Tu, in his speech, said the month-long show assembles 60 works by 34 artists, capturing the historic site through everything from archival documents to contemporary pieces.
The goal is to bring the public closer to a national treasure, keep Vietnam's scholarly spirit alive, and revitalise the relic site’s cultural significance in modern life.
Curator Nguyen The Son called the display a chance to revisit the rich artistic legacy that the temple has left across eras. Early 20th-century sketches and oil paintings by French artists share space with works from generations of painters trained at the Indochina School of Fine Arts, alongside today’s creators. The complex has never stopped inspiring, showing a mirror of both its evolution and the cultural pulse of Thang Long–Hanoi.
The 60 works, spread across a wide mix of media, spark a conversation that crosses generations and borders, bringing together Vietnamese and foreign artists, architects and designers, Son added.
Architect Tran Huy Anh, standing member of the Hanoi Fine Arts Association, said the show maps more than just artistic change. It captures the hopes, dreams and deep-rooted love of learning that have shaped generations of Vietnamese.
A big part of the buzz comes from the lineup itself, including distinguished professors and seasoned painters, along with doctoral researchers, graduate students and emerging young artists. Many of the pieces look at the heritage site with new angles, exploring not only its history and culture but also nature, biodiversity and sustainable development, he added./.
