VietNamNet Bridge – Painter Ngoc Mai, 60, has spent 12 years to create dozens of paintings depicting impressive moments in great poet Nguyen Du’s “The Tale of Kieu”.
Her set of 28 paintings featuring the Tale of Kieu were introduced at an exhibition in HCM City from September 17 to 25.

She has also published a photo book entitled “Kieu silk paintings” in Vietnamese, English and French. The book includes 28 paintings, Ngoc Mai’s impression and feeling about the Tale of Kieu.

The Tale of Kieu has been adapted into music, drama, etc. and now paintings.
Ngoc Mai is a member of the HCM City Fine Art Association. She has had many exhibitions in Vietnam, France, USA, etc.

The Tale of Kieu is an epic poem in Vietnamese written by Nguyen Du (1766–1820), and is widely regarded as the most significant work of Vietnamese literature. It is even used as a source for bibliomancy.

In 3,254 verses, written in luc bat (6/8) meter, the poem recounts the life, trials and tribulations of Thuy Kieu, a beautiful and talented young woman, who had to sacrifice herself to save her family. To save her father and younger brother from prison, she sold herself into marriage with a middle-aged man, not knowing that he is a pimp, and was forced into prostitution.

Thuy Kieu in Ngoc Mai’s paintings:


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