From seemingly unrelated scraps of fabric, artist Tran Thanh Thuc has created breathtaking works of art that have captivated the art world.

Her third solo exhibition, titled Listening to fabric tell stories, has just opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, showcasing 75 fabric collage paintings.

Each piece is a deeply emotional landscape that spans 45 years of journeys across Vietnam, from Mui Sa Vi in the north to Cape Ca Mau in the south.

In an interview with VietNamNet, Tran Thanh Thuc shared that this is the first time she is exhibiting large-format panoramic works measuring 200cm x 90cm. Creating these expansive pieces from scattered bits of fabric was a challenge she set for herself.

“For the past 45 years, I’ve remained faithful to the art of fabric collage. As long as my feet are not weary, as long as I still dream, and as long as the colors of fabric continue to inspire me, I will keep pursuing this art,” she said.

Each painting is a serene and reflective reminiscence, telling stories of childhood memories, village wells, flowering trellises, and commutes to school interrupted by air-raid sirens. They also capture the emotions stirred by witnessing the beauty of the country during her travels. Fearing that the dust of time would fade these memories, she has diligently cut and assembled pieces of fabric into landscapes that preserve her emotions and personal nostalgia.

After all these years, the artist still strolls leisurely through Hanoi’s streets, daily expressing gratitude, love, and reverence for the city where she studied, matured, and continues to live. Hanoi remains one of her most beloved themes - peaceful, elegant, unique, and dignified.