Portraits of children in the northwestern mountainous areas of Viet Nam will be featured in Childhoods, the first solo exhibition by artist Bui Van Tuat, which is being held at the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum.

Artist Bui Van Tuat. — Photo phapluatplus.vn/

Tuất is a young artist who is also a member of the Mường ethnic minority, born and raised in Ba Vì District on the outskirts of Hà Nội. The ethnic children in northwestern Viet Nam are the main inspiration for the 36-year-old artist’s work. He frequently spends his free time travelling to the mountainous areas, carrying his easel to recall his childhood memories.

“My childhood memories consist of picking wild berries and eating them until my mouth was purple then swimming in the stream naked in order to keep my clothes dry,” he recalled.

The artist said the naïve faces of the children in the mountainous areas even appeared in his dreams when he studied in Hà Nội.

A Day Like This by artist Tuat

“Cassava, sweet potatoes, wild berries and stream water made my Mường ethnic roots more deeply attached. After that, even the ice cream, running water or high-rise buildings could not make them faded away,” Tuất said.

Portraits are his favourite theme and strength, which will be showcased via 18 exhibited works this time. The simple scenes of daily life are also exhibited via paintings like Một Ngày Như Thế (A Day Like This), Không Gian Trong Bếp (Kitchen Space) or Bên Hiên Nhà (By the Terrace).

‘Childhoods’ will run until December 9. — VNS