The 2017 Culin'Art exhibition is taking place at InterContinental Nha Trang, displaying the artworks of visual artist Bridget March. The landscapes and culture of the North, Central and South of Vietnam portrayed in the paintings of Bridget March show the understanding of Vietnamese culture and the love for Vietnam of the artist from England.
The 2017 Culin’Art exhibition is taking place at InterContinental Nha Trang, displaying the artworks of visual artist Bridget March. The landscapes and culture of the North, Central and South of Vietnam portrayed in the paintings of Bridget March show the understanding of Vietnamese culture and the love for Vietnam of the artist from England.
Colours of three regions in Vietnam
The 2017 Culin’Art exhibition showcases 13 acrylic paintings of Bridget March. In these paintings, the viewers can see the images of green terraced fields in the spring in Lao Cai, buckwheat flower field, young women dressing in colorful costume in the highlands of the North West, Cau Pagoda, golden sand beach in a summer noon, and houses with round windows in Hoi An. The southern region of Vietnam is reflected through the images of rivers, a red boat in cajuput forest and sunset in front of a house in Con Dao Island.
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| Visual artist Bridget March at 2017 Culin’Art exhibition in Nha Trang. |
Each painting of Bridget March records the beauty of life in Vietnam. The artist often sketches the scenes, life activities and people she meets on her trips throughout Vietnam. “I often make the sketches of what impresses me and then finish the paintings basing on my perspective. Therefore, my paintings are not only simply the copy of reality but also full of aesthetic qualities,” said Bridget March.
Love for Vietnam
Artist Bridget March used to work as a product designer for 18 years and teach arts at Leed College of Arts (Leeds City, England) for 9 years. Reportedly, she wished to become a painter from an early age but she could not afford to pursue her dream. Bridget March fell in love with Vietnam when she came to the country to visit her friend in 2011. She settled in Vietnam ten months later to chase the dream of becoming a professional painter.
In over four years, Bridget March travelled to many places throughout Vietnam to discover the nature in Vietnam and the cultural life of Vietnamese people. March likes the diverse and rich culture of Vietnam. She also loves the warmth of the ethnic people in Sapa; is interested in the cultural intercourse and historical changes in the Central, especially in Hoi An. Ho Chi Minh City with open people and rich culture has also left a good impression on the artist.
Bridget March lived 7 months in Hoi An, 4 months in Sapa and has made many excursions over Vietnam to create artworks. Apart from paintings, March also published two books named “A week in Hoi An” (in English) and “A summer in Sapa” (in dual languages), which contain not only pictures but also the stories and March’s feeling about the history, culture and people of each place.
Bridget March is now living in Ho Chi Minh City. Beside drawing, she has also opened drawing classes for foreigners who like to draw pictures of Vietnam. During her days in Nha Trang for the organization of the 2017 Culin’Art exhibition, March opens a short term drawing class and takes time to discover the life in the beach city. “I am very surprised with many things in Nha Trang. The life has still been peaceful despite of the strong development of tourism. I think this city will provide inspiration for me to draw,” shared March.
Bridget March also suggests that the city should have centers for exhibitions and galleries to introduce the local cultural life to tourists as well as to create rendezvous for the artists.
Thanh Nguyen
Translated by H.N
