A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held before the exhibition is officially open to the public. (Photo: VOV)

The exhibition showcases 21 pieces gathered from 10 private collections, under the theme “Sky, Mountain, Water – Allusive Panorama.” Under the pseudonym Tu Xuan (Son of Spring), the King’s paintings expressed his homesickness and aspiration to transcend time through art. Visitors to the exhibition can explore the exiled emperor’s artistic legacy and engage a dialogue between the past and present.

A visitor from Hue named Nguyen Phuc Vinh Dung, said, “I am truly moved by the artworks. As a descendant of the royal family and a resident of Hue, I have always wanted more people to appreciate these paintings, which were created by an exiled monarch who later became a renowned artist worldwide. I hope there will be more exhibitions like this to help elevate our people’s spiritual and cultural life.”

Visitors watch one of King Ham Nghi's 21 paintings at  Kien Trung Palace, Hue, on March 24, 2025. (Photo: VOV)

King Ham Nghi was one of the first Vietnamese artists to receive training in Western painting, said Franck Bolgiani, Cultural Attaché at the French Embassy and Director of the French Institute in Hanoi. By blending classical French techniques with a deep love for nature and his homeland's culture, he created unique works full of emotion and imbued with nostalgia, he added.

The exhibition will remain open until April 6.

Born in 1871, King Ham Nghi ascended the throne in 1884. He was the eighth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. After the fall of the capital Hue in 1885, King Ham Nghi issued the Can Vuong edict, calling on scholars and farmers to rise up against colonial rule to gain independence. He was captured by the French in 1888, and went into exile in Algiers, Algeria’s capital city in 1889. He lived in a villa on El Biar hill, about 12km from Algiers, while maintaining his country's customs until his passing in 1944.