Artist Dang Ai Viet (b. 1948) embarks on a remarkable journey across Vietnam, aiming to honor and remember the thousands of women who lost loved ones during the war.
Viet has dedicated her life to painting portraits of these heroic Vietnamese mothers, with a goal to capture their strength and resilience. Her travels are a continuation of her fight for these women, as she rushes to meet them and hear their stories.
A Life of Service and Art
Dang Thi Bong, known artistically as Dang Ai Viet (“I Love Vietnam”), has led an extraordinary life. At just 15 years old, she joined the resistance war against American troops, and later became a singer with the Liberation Art Troupe.
However, it was her attendance at a painting class held in the war zone in 1964 that changed her life forever. From that moment on, she dedicated her artistic talents to bearing witness to the brutality of war and honoring those affected by it.
| Painter Dang Ai Viet shares her journey and her passion for painting. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times |
Dang Ai Viet’s artistic career was inextricably linked to the war with the United States. She painted in the trenches, surrounded by gunfire and bomb smoke, creating countless sketches of battles. Viet and her fellow artists would follow each other to different battlegrounds, capturing the devastation and sacrifice through their art.
The loss of her comrades left an indelible mark on Viet, and she felt a deep connection to the mothers who had lost their children to the war. This empathy drove her to begin a silent mission of her own: painting portraits of these heroic mothers. Despite suggestions to focus on her artistic career, Viet chose to embark on a journey across Vietnam, carrying her paint and brushes on a 50cc motorbike.
Her first trip was an arduous one, covering approximately 300 km per day. The strain of the journey took its toll on her motorcycle, but it remained a faithful companion throughout. Eventually, the bike was retired and is now on display at the Vietnam Women’s Union Museum, a testament to Viet’s determination.
| Portraits of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers by Dang Ai Viet. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times |
Each portrait captures a unique story of strength and resilience. The mothers shared their hidden emotions with Viet, and she painted with these feelings in mind. Often, she would paint through tears, believing that she was capturing not just the mothers’ faces, but their eyes, their smiles, and their souls.
Viet’s portraits have been displayed in numerous exhibitions and are now preserved in museums across the country, ensuring that the stories of these heroic mothers are remembered and honored.
A Hero in Her Own Right
Dang Ai Viet’s tireless and compassionate work has been recognized by the state. On November 13, 2020, she was conferred the title of Hero of Labor, becoming the first artist to receive this noble honor.
| Former National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (right) views the exhibition in Hanoi. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times |
In the past six months alone, Viet has traveled over 10,000 kilometers, driven by the knowledge that time is not on her side. “My biggest fear,” she says, “is that the heroic mothers will leave us, as they are all elderly. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to honor them.”
Out of the 130,000 mothers who were awarded the title of Heroic Mother by the government in 2013, Viet knew that approximately 4,000 were still alive. To date, she has completed 3,000 portraits, a remarkable achievement.
Recently, she presented 63 portraits at the exhibition Tam hoa tri an (Grateful Portraits Painted from the Heart) in Hanoi, which was held at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. The exhibition and the paintings donated by Viet serve as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by these mothers and the artist’s own dedication to her craft.
| The exhibition inspires pride and gratitude among visitors. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times |
Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vice President of the Vietnam Women’s Union, emphasized the importance of the exhibition in showcasing the portraits of Vietnamese heroic mothers and recognizing the artist’s decade-long journey. She expressed confidence that these invaluable artworks would be preserved in the museum, serving as a source of pride for future generations and a tribute to the artist’s compassionate heart.
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