Exhibition on sacred beasts in Vietnamese culture

A recent fine art exhibition at the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi highlighting sacred beasts in Vietnamese culture is one of efforts of the younger generation to make cultural heritage more accessible through creative works.

The fine art exhibition "Tu Tinh Tu Linh" showcased 34 artworks by 9x-generation artist Nguyen Thanh Vu.

This collection highlights sacred beasts in Vietnamese culture, focusing on Ly, Tran, Later Le, and Nguyen dynasties.

"Tu tinh" symbolises harmony, simplicity, modesty, and closeness to people, reflecting ancestor worship and the blend of Buddhism and Confucianism.

Besides the Four Sacred Beasts (Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, and Phoenix), Vietnamese spiritual culture includes many other mythical creatures.

The exhibition offers insights into ancient stories and beliefs that have shaped Vietnamese spiritual practices and are preserved to this day.

Nguyen Thanh Vu, born in 1995 and a graduate of Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, has a deep passion for oil painting and Vietnamese cultural history.

He has traveled extensively within Vietnam to places like the ancient capital city of Hue and the Thang Long Imperial Citadel to immerse himself in historical artifacts and settings.

He also visited Cambodia and Thailand to study Cham art, understanding its nuances compared to neighboring countries.

"Tu tinh tu linh" is a product of Vu's dedicated artistic efforts, reflecting his perspective on history and culture.

This exhibition aims to make cultural heritage more accessible to the younger generation through creative works./.