(VOVWORLD) - 50 paintings are now on display at the exhibition “Grown-ups tell childhood tales” at Van lake next to the Temple of Literature in Hanoi. They represent 50 fragments of childhood memories of family and loved ones.
 Painter Mai Hoa and her collection "Home" (Photo: Pham Thi Bich Ngoc/VOV1) |
The 50 paintings were created by 8 artists from different parts of Vietnam, who recalled kites soaring in the wind, a mother returning home with a heavy shopping basket, a handheld electronic game console, folk games, drumming, transformers, and mask-shaped chocolate candy.
Mai Hoa, an illustrator who lives in Hanoi, talked to us about her paintings: “I contributed a collection called ‘Home’ of four paintings reflecting my memories of my close-knit family. This is a grandmother and granddaughter having breakfast. This is a father brushing his daughter’s hair. I think visitors might see their own home in my collection, feel the warmth and closeness of family bonds, and cherish their loved ones even more.”
“Grown-ups tell childhood tales” is part of a community-oriented cultural series co-organized by the art retailer TiredCity and the Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities of the Temple of Literature. The exhibition will run through July 31.
 Children play folk games at the exhibition. (Photo: Pham Thi Bich Ngoc/VOV1) |
Project Manager Bui Ngoc Xuan said the organizing board hopes the artworks will touch the hearts of all generations and inspire today’s youth.
“TiredCity is always looking for artworks that are suitable for children and able to connect generations. The stories told in ‘Grown-ups tell childhood tales’ are childhood memories of artists born in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. We want the exhibition to be a venue where people can explore the childhoods of their older siblings or parents and foster intergenerational connection,” said Xuan.
At the exhibition, children can play a variety of guided traditional games like o an quan (a traditional Vietnamese board game), fishing games, and jackstones, and taste snacks that were popular 20-30 years ago, such as dried instant noodles, sweetened fruits, and candies.
“This is my first visit to Hanoi. There are many interesting folk games here that we never get to play back home. I really enjoyed trying them,” said Nguyen Tran Hai Dang, a young visitor from the central region.