VietNamNet Bridge – An exhibition of paintings by late songwriter Trinh Cong Son opened at the HCM City Art Museum on April 9-15.

“I have looked for myself in music and poetry. I have not seen my whole face. And I have tried to turn to painting to continue looking for myself,” the musician wrote on a local newspaper in 1991.

Ten years after his death, over 50 paintings and portrait sketches by Trinh Cong Son are being introduced at the “Not Mau” exhibition.

Trinh Cong Son made these works in many years, since his boyhood in the central city of Hue to his last years at the house 47C Pham Ngoc Thach, District 3, HCM City.

He used different materials, from water colors to chalk, oil.

Like his music, Trinh Cong Son’s paintings show loneliness, the void of human existence as well as an unaffected, pure and romantic soul of a man who always loved humankind and life.

When he was still alive, Trinh Cong Son exhibited his paintings with professional artists like Dinh Cuong, Trinh Cung, Do Quang Em, Ton That Van and Buu Chi at several galleries in HCM City. Some covers of his music books were illustrated by his own paintings and sketches.

Most of the artworks displayed at the exhibition are owned by Trinh cong Son’s family. Some are borrowed from collectors and some are reproductions.

The exhibition was among activities to commemorate Trinh Cong Son’s 10^th death anniversary.

Some paintings displayed at the exhibition:

Nude, oil painting by Trinh Cong Son.

A glass of red wine.

Diem, oil painting, 1963

Dao Anh

Thuy Huong

Michiko

O Ly mother

Still-life.

A painting made in 1974.

Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong

Buu Chi

No title

PV