“Womb of Fire” arises from the terrain of quiet persistence. In Vietnamese, fire and blood flow as inseparable currents. Fire – where stories, songs, and sustenance gather. Blood – bloodlines of generations whose sacrifice and resilience courses through one’s veins. Yet, blood also carries the pulse of intensity, a fiery determination, a spirit that is bold and unrestrained. “Womb of Fire” is a living archive of these energies; a space where the invisible labor, the bodily wisdom, and the fiery inventiveness of Vietnamese women are concentrated and celebrated.

The year 2025 marks the centennial of the Indochina School of Fine Arts. “Womb of Fire” positions itself as an independent educational endeavor, a counter-archive that centers women’s voices and experiences. It is offered as a humble tribute, an admiring acknowledgment, and an expression of gratitude towards the persistence, care, and radiant energy of women artists across Vietnam and the diaspora.

Editor: Hồng Ánh