Hue’s history revealed

First time art lovers and collectors became familiar with Tran Minh Tam’s portrayal of royal characters from the past in 2013 when he introduced his “House of Nguyen I” series at Craig Thomas Gallery. The Nguyen Dynasty has a long line of historical personages who, according to the artist, “are already very famous in Vietnamese history”. The legacy of the House of Nguyen is felt most strongly today in the city of Hue, its imperial capital from 1802 to 1945. 
“House of Nguyen II” is part of the artist’s effort to capture a royal past that is now far removed from the memory of most modern Vietnamese.
Straying away from their political legacies, a version frequently told in mainstream history textbooks, the artist honours his royal subjects by emphasising their human experiences. 
While emperor Duy Tan is only portrayed as a shadow over her shoulder, Madame Ho Thi Chi catches the eye in her green gown and in the gentle embrace of a peacock. The peacock has always been a symbol of elegance, grace and virtue, and was believed to be the manifestation on Earth of Fenghuang, the mythological bird that controls all celestial bodies. The painting demands of the viewer sympathy for the tragic life of a dignified woman whose virtue, intelligence and beauty could not save her from being a victim of her time.
Find out more by emailing [email protected] or visit www.CThomasGallery.com.