Exhibition of paintings by King Ham Nghi

A work by King Ham Nghi displayed in the exhibition

The exhibition took place at Kien Trung Palace (Hue City), displaying more than 20 works from 10 private collections. The works were repatriated, appraised, preserved and restored by leading experts and co-curated by art researcher Ace Le (Editor-in-Chief of Art Republik Magazine) and Dr. Amandine Dabat (5th generation descendant of King Ham Nghi).

“The public has known King Ham Nghi as a national hero, who drafted the Can Vuong Edict with the desire to regain the country's sovereignty from the French colonialists. However, not many people know that he was also one of the first two Vietnamese artists (along with Le Van Mien) to be trained in Western academic methods, so he can be considered a pioneer in the dawn of modern Vietnamese art. His paintings are a unique combination of artistic talent and love for his country, where he expressed his nostalgia for his homeland and also contained a hidden resistance to the oppression during his exile,” said curator Ace Le.

The “return” of the paintings created by King Ham Nghi is placed in the space of Kien Trung Palace - the former residence of the Nguyen Dynasty royal family, as a tribute from later generations to the patriotic king. This is also a rare opportunity for the public in Vietnam to admire the beauty of King Ham Nghi's works in an exhibition space designed to be attached to the relic, fully meeting the exhibition standards of international museums.

Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, said: “The exhibition and introduction of King Ham Nghi’s works is to preserve and promote the national cultural identity, and to help the younger generation better understand the history and culture of the country, thereby becoming more aware of the preservation and promotion of heritage values. The exhibition also contributes to affirming the position of the ancient capital of Hue as a cultural center in the historical flow of Vietnam.”

In addition to admiring the valuable works, visitors to the exhibition can also interact with the curators and experts to better understand the process of repatriating King Ham Nghi's paintings and the exhibition. In particular, the exhibition also includes a talk with Dr. Amandine Dabat, providing a deeper insight into the life and artistic practice of the talented king during his exile in France and Algeria.

The exhibition week also takes place at the same time as Hue City hosts the National Tourism Year, combined with Hue Festival 2025, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the province's Liberation Day (March 26, 1975 - March 26, 2025) and welcoming Hue to become a centrally-governed city.

LIBRA