VietNamNet Bridge – Artist Ngoc Mai's 28 paintings on silk featuring characters of the epic poem Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) are on display at HCM City's Exhibition House until next Monday.

Masterpiece: A painting featuring the character of Kieu, famously portrayed in the Tale of Kieu, one of Viet Nam's literary masterpieces.

Truyen Kieu, written by poet Nguyen Du in the Nom script in the early 19th century, is considered the pinnacle of Viet Nam's literary works.

It tells the life, trials and tribulations of Thuy Kieu, a beautiful and talented young woman who, to save her father from prison, sells herself into marriage with a man. Not knowing that he was a pimp, she is forced into prostitution.

"I thought of painting Kieu when I was young. I as well as millions of Vietnamese love her and feel pity for her," Mai said.

The 60-year-old spent 12 years completing the paintings, many of which depict the lithe Kieu, who looks delicate and melancholic.

Images of Kieu clad in four-panel traditional dress are romantically portrayed in many of her works.

Other characters of The Tale of Kieu, including Thuy Van, Kieu's sister, and Kim Trong, are featured in the collection wearing Vietnamese traditional costumes.

Before Mai, several Vietnamese artists have painted Kieu clad in Chinese clothes or in ao dai (Vietnamese traditional robe).

Siblings: Thuy Kieu and her sister, Thuy Van.
The exhibition also marks the debut of the book Kieu Silk Painting, published by Mai's son, Le Minh Thuy.

Mai has taken part in many exhibitions in Viet Nam and other countries, including the US and France, in recent years.

The paintings, which are not for sale, can be seen at the Exhibition House, 92 Le Thanh Ton St, District 1.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News