Story: La Thuy Giang
Photos: Zen Nguyen, Trinh Quoc Huy

When discussing her works presented at the exhibition Art Collective: From the One to the Many held at Saatchi Gallery in mid-September, artist Le Trang repeatedly used the phrases “heritage” and “the legacy of Hue” .

Dreamy Lady 2023 Oil on canvas 130 x 160cm Private Collection

Upon learning that she was the only contemporary female artist from Vietnam invited to showcase two paintings, Dreamy Lady (2023) and The Garden of Love (2024), in an international exhibition titled “Art Collective: From the One to the Many” at the Saatchi Gallery in the UK (from September 17-19, 2024), and her work Home on the Pond in an international exhibition titled “Let Us Hear HER VOICE” at Isolart Gallery in Florence, Italy (from October 5-9, 2024), Le Trang expressed surprise, since she has never studied Fine Arts. Graduating with a Master’s in Business Administration from RMIT University, Le Trang only began painting about three years ago.

Encouraged by these overseas exhibitions, Le Trang will introduce her works to Vietnamese art lovers via a solo exhibition titled “Trang and Painting” at the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, from October 11-13, 2024. In addition to showcasing her artworks, this exhibition will offer an impressive immersive art experience.

The artist Le Trang poses out front of the Saatchi Gallery in London

“She is a young woman full of aspirations. She sits at a table, engrossed in her favorite book, allowing her mind to drift into the enchanting world of literature. In this quiet, entirely introspective moment, she lets go of the present, sinking into her inner world, searching for fragments of dreams and passions”. (Excerpt from the book Trang and Painting, scheduled for release in mid-October).

Dreamy Lady took Le Trang two years to complete. For her, it is not just a painting but a mirror reflecting each person’s dreams while portraying the resilience hidden behind women’s fragility and vulnerability. She wants to encourage women to continue dreaming and striving despite their challenges.

Born and raised in Hue, Le Trang understands that “heritage” not only encompasses ancient architecture and traditional ao dai tunics but also spiritual heritage. From the youthful dreams of Dreamy Lady to the gentle warmth of a mother caring for her children in The Garden of Love, to the journey of weaverbirds building nests in Home on the Pond, all of her works revolve around a precious value: Home.

Sunset on Thanh Toan Tile Bridge 2023 Oil on canvas 100 X 130cm Private Collection

Through images of bird nests and Asian Golden Weaver birds—master architects of nature found only in some tropical countries including Vietnam—Le Trang is sharing a message that “Home” is each person’s most valuable heritage.

Through her paintings, Le Trang also expresses her nostalgia and pride in the city of Hue. Sunset on Thanh Toan Tile Bridge is one such work. Depicting this ancient bridge, “Le Trang seems to have captured the flow of time by harmoniously combining ancient elements with modern impressions,” said art curator Dot Zhihan Jia.

With layers of color on a canvas, Le Trang intertwines multiple stories, blending memories and the present to celebrate life’s diversity, with a focus on aspects we are gradually forgetting.