American woman with endless love for Vietnamese art

Ms. Suzanne Lecht, an American who loves Vietnamese art and is currently the Creative Director of Art Vietnam Gallery, had a "coincidental" journey to Hanoi, where she found a new appreciation and passion for art and culture.

Suzanne Lecht’s story is not only a personal journey to Vietnamese art, but also a symbol of the cultural connection between the two countries. With her dedication, she has contributed to introducing Vietnamese art to the world and building deep cultural bridges.

The turning point came in October 1993, when a friend of hers, a producer at CBS News in Tokyo, brought back a copy of the magazine “Vietnam Investment Review” from a business trip to Ho Chi Minh City. In the August 1993 issue of the magazine, Suzanne was fascinated by an article introducing a group of Hanoi artists, known as the ‘Gang of Five’ .

After many years, Ms. Suzanne still keeps the Vietnam Investment Review magazine with an article about the Hanoi painter group 'Gang of Five'.

The magazine has been carefully preserved by her for more than 30 years...

“I studied art history, but as Americans, we only know Vietnam through the painful war,” Suzanne said. “So when I read the article, I thought these artists were special. They were only 7 or 8 years old when the war broke out, had to evacuate to the countryside, then grew up in the harsh years, and only when Vietnam was liberated and entered the Doi Moi period did they start to have the opportunity to express themselves through art.”

According to Suzanne, these artists found freedom in art . Their works are heavily influenced by Western artists such as Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh. “As someone who doesn’t know much about Vietnam, I find the works of the ‘Gang of Five’ complex and multi-dimensional. They represent a new generation, daring to dream of better things and wanting to integrate into the world after years of war and hardship.”

She said that it was these works that sparked a new passion in her and urged her to come to Hanoi . “I thought I could work with these artists and become a bridge for reconciliation between the US and Vietnam through art. Although art is not directly related to the war, it is a symbol of progress, of faith and hope for a bright future.”

A precious photo of friends and artists in the group 'Gang of Five'.

They are prominent names in the Vietnamese art world such as Dang Xuan Hoa, Tran Luong, Ha Tri Hieu, Pham Quang Vinh and Hong Viet Dung.

American woman carries Vietnamese cultural traits.

With that in mind, Suzanne decided to pack her bags and head to Hanoi. “I am a Buddhist, and we are taught that everything in life is interconnected. So I believe that my coming to Vietnam was not a coincidence, but a destiny .”

The author of the article that changed Suzanne Lecht's life is a Swedish journalist who studied fine arts in the US and has a deep interest in Southeast Asian art. She came to Hanoi to do her doctoral research and became friends with the 'Gang of Five' group of artists. She is now a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago - where many Vietnamese artists study, and is also a curator of many art projects in Vietnam. It was her article that brought Suzanne Letch to Vietnam. Then, in Hanoi, Suzanne had many fateful and coincidental encounters...

Ms. Suzanne Fecht gives the opening speech at an art exhibition in Hanoi. The photo was taken in 1997.

"Since then, I have been able to settle in Hanoi indefinitely, learn more things and my love for this place has become stronger than ever," she shared. Ms. Suzanne decided to hire Phuong as an interpreter. Every day, Phuong picked her up to meet Pham Quang Vinh, and they took her to meet many artists, writers and poets of the capital city of Hanoi.

Ms. Suzanne meets artists in Hanoi.

Not only limited to the city, they also went to see Quan Ho in Bac Ninh, watched the sunrise at Huong Pagoda. "For a foreigner like me, I feel really grateful. At that time, I didn't know how lucky I was. I got to learn about Vietnamese culture through Vietnamese artists. It was really a perfect learning process for me," she expressed.

The photo of Ms. Suzanne was taken at the studio of artist Ha Tri Hieu with the presence of Mr. Pham Quang Vinh and Mr. Michael Davis.

During her three months in Hanoi, Suzanne bought a Jeep from Ho Chi Minh City and drove back to Hanoi. In this car, she and artists such as Pham Quang Vinh and Ha Tri Hieu traveled to provinces such as Dien Bien Phu, Son La, etc. At that time, every summer, artists had to go to remote areas to do drawings for the Vietnam University of Fine Arts.

Ms. Suzanne with artist Ha Tri Hieu at Phu Lang pottery village, Bac Ninh province.

In 1978, Pham Quang Vinh was assigned to Mai Chau to do the drawing, where he met a White Thai family living in a stilt house. With a Jeep ready, Mr. Vinh proposed to Mrs. Suzanne to visit the White Thai family after more than 15 years apart. When they arrived, Mr. Vinh decided to buy the stilt house and told Mrs. Suzanne: "I will bring this house back to Hanoi, put it on my family's land".

“Vinh’s words blew me away,” she recalls. “I said, ‘Isn’t that great? Why don’t we do this project together? Instead of me paying rent to strangers, why can’t I live in this house and pay rent to you? Let’s make it really big, with an exhibition space on the first floor, an art studio on the second floor, and put the stilt house on the third floor on top.’ Without hesitation, Vinh agreed, and I’ve been here since the house was completed in 1996.”

The White Thai stilt house is located on the top floor of the Art Vietnam Gallery. The tiled roof replaces the thatched roof to withstand the weather.

The process of building the house was arduous and difficult, taking two years to complete the project. From building the foundation, erecting the pillars to dismantling the stilt house from Mai Chau and transporting the parts to Hanoi. Reassembling the White Thai stilt house alone took more than a month. Their three-story house was completed in May 1996.

"The materials in the house were also difficult to find. We designed the doors and windows ourselves. Everything was handcrafted by many different artists," said Suzanne. "Made of wood and in the climate of Hanoi, the house often needs to be repaired and maintained, which takes a lot of effort. But I really love this house full of memories."

Having lived in Hanoi for nearly 30 years, during that time, Ms. Suzanne Lecht has built a deep relationship with the people and culture here, considering Hanoi as her second home.

"Vietnamese people are very warm and friendly," she shared. "I have a wonderful housekeeper who has been with me and the house for many years. Her daughter is currently studying at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. Her husband is a carpenter, always maintaining and repairing the wooden details of this house."

"The people of Hanoi are the reason I want to live in this city. They are wonderful: smart, funny, love the balance between work and play, tough and also a bit stubborn," she said with a laugh.

She also expressed her admiration for the resilience of the Vietnamese people. "I really admire the Vietnamese people for being so resilient, especially when you have been through war and a harsh living environment. I have never heard Vietnamese people complain. It's like, 'Okay, it happened, let's just work together to solve it and move forward.' That's a really beautiful way to live."

Ms. Suzanne Lecht talked with Nhan Dan Newspaper reporters on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024).

"However, art is the reason I came here, it is like an 'anchor' that keeps me in Hanoi," she emphasized. "I feel very lucky and privileged to work with Hanoi artists. They have given me a new life, helping me learn many things about a culture different from what I used to know. What an interesting and historically valuable Hanoi!"

Looking back at the development of Hanoi, Ms. Suzanne cannot help but be amazed. "When Pham Quang Vinh and I bought this house, there were only mud roads around, and there were even buffaloes running around. Now, everything has changed with concrete roads, high-rise buildings, overpasses and highways. It is remarkable that Vietnam has made such progress."

"When I came here in 1994, the neighborhood would be turned off at 9pm every night to save energy, no one had computers or phones, most people rode bicycles. I had to go to the post office to send letters to relatives, to schedule phone calls. And look at it now, the development in 30 years is so impressive."

She also emphasized: "Hanoi's infrastructure development is very fast. In addition, Vietnam's economy is currently one of the strongest in Southeast Asia. So, you have good reason to feel proud to be Vietnamese."

"I love Hanoi and plan to stay here forever. This is my home," she affirmed, saying that she will continue to hold art exhibitions in Hanoi, as this place has become a part of her. Although she is 76 years old, there are still many young Vietnamese artists who have gone abroad and then returned to the country, so she wants to work with them as an advisor, passing on knowledge after nearly 30 years of working and being attached to Hanoi. Continuing to connect art and people in her own way - Suzanne Lecht.