Resilient Figure: Bà Nội - Grandma
I came across an interesting question in the recent interview with Canvas Rebel L.A: “We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey”, which I had a pleasure sharing the story of my Grandma, Madam Xuân Phượng. She is the hub of my childhood, my inspiration and the source of positive energy whom continues to fuel the passion, hope and creativity of future Vietnamese Generations.
Madam Xuân Phượng, 94 years young, one of the first female Vietnamese Art Curator who has successfully introducing Vietnamese Fine Arts internationally through her renowned Lotus Gallery - one of the very first Art Gallery in Saigon, Vietnam in the early 90s. She sets the foundation of Arts Appreciation and has contributed 30 years of her life showing the world the true beauty of Vietnamese Arts and Cultures.
A former war reporter, now director, book author/writer, public speaker, art curator; Madam Phượng continues to inspire younger generations to follow our dreams and dream even bigger.
I am proud and honored to call her Bà Nội - my grandma.
Jewelry: “MAY” necklace, “BẢO” Earrings
Most people think about retirement after 65 years old. They travel, read a book, chill with their grandkids - easy and relax. At 94 years young, my grandmother has a busy daily schedule: drafting her next book, hops on a Zoom Call, appears in a local Podcast or attends Art Shows around the city - this is her definition of “retirement”. She’s happy keeping herself busy. “It’s important to keep the mind young”, she said. I remembered always looking forward to sleep over nights with her (when I was 7 or 8 years old) just to listen to her glorious past. There is a unique charisma from the way she tells a story - it’s funny, exciting, attractive yet natural and organic. You just never want the story to end.
Growing up in the Ancient Huế - the historical Heritage and Cultural hub of Vietnam located in the Central Region during the French Colonial period, she was the oldest in the family. Her father was a principal at the local French School. From the young age, my grandma had always been a smart one with a rebellious edge. She would instigate “games” around the house and got her brothers and sisters in troubles. At the age of 18, she parted with her family to join thousands of other men and women who would fight for the hope of a better life after the war. War time was tragic and full of despair. However, with the exquisite language skill (she is fluent in French and English), she found her purpose during this toughest time - to become a war reporter, partnering with international directors/ journalists/ Peace advocates to produce Vietnam War documentaries. This journey has established many cherish-able friendships that last a lifetime.
“I think the most important thing for me is I can pursue my passion. And the second thing is, you only live once. No matter how wealthy you are, you only live once. So do what you love. ”
During one of the podcast episode, when was asked of why she chooses to do what she does, promoting Vietnamese Art and Vietnamese Painters, she answered: “When people think about Vietnam, they remember the Vietnam War, full of grieves and sadness. But we (Vietnam) is not about just that – we are a beautiful country with unique and enrich cultures, and Vietnamese Fine Arts is perfect to show and educate international friends about my country. This is why I created Lotus Gallery”.
As a former war reporter, she had utilized her resources and networks as a stepping stone to become an Arts Curator. Remember this was way back to the early 1990s, internet was brand new. With most Asian cultures, creativity or doing something in creative field is not a real job, just aspirational yet my grandma decided to take on an ambitious route of curating Vietnamese Fine Arts Paintings, showing them at her Gallery and organizing international exhibitions. She would travel all over Vietnam to discover local artists, got inspired from their works and inspired them to exhibit at her gallery. She taught them to believe in their creativity, that their works would make Vietnam proud. As a pioneer, it was a tough journey but she has successfully made it; because she believes in her artists and she believes in her vision, her passion of promoting Vietnamese Fine Arts.
More than 30 years with lots of ups and downs, she is one of the few Vietnamese women who received the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur from the French Government, honoring her exceptional journey & contribution in Vietnamese Art & Culture Appreciation. Through out her lifetime, she has discovered, nurtured and exposed multiple famous Vietnamese Painters such as Pham Dinh Hao, Hoang Sung. Most importantly, as the first female Vietnamese Art Curator, she has successfully showing a different Vietnam to the world.
Now at 94 years young, she is an active public speakers, book author, writer who continues fueling inspirations to the younger generations. I believe my grandmother, Madam Xuân Phượng, is the only one of our time.
