Following its landmark success at Kien Trung Palace, Hue Citadel in March 2025, which welcomed over 110,000 visitors. “Trời, Non, Nước | Allusive Panorama” continues its journey to the capital. From 24 April to 10 May 2026, Art Nation, in collaboration with the Institut Français du Vietnam and the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Cultural and Scientific Centre, will present the exhibition’s second leg at the historic Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam) in Hanoi. Curated to international standards, “Allusive Panorama” is the first major retrospective of Emperor Ham Nghi’s artworks to be staged in the capital.

Opening Hours: 08:00–17:00 | 24 April–10 May 2026
Venue: Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam), Hanoi

“Allusive Panorama” will feature 20 original works, meticulously gathered from ten private collections. These pieces have been repatriated, authenticated, preserved, and restored by leading experts. The exhibition is co-curated by art researcher Ace Le and Dr Amandine Dabat – a fifth-generation descendant of Emperor Ham Nghi and author of the book “Ham Nghi – Exiled Emperor, Artist in Alger”.

“Emperor Ham Nghi (1871–1944) is well regarded as our national hero, who had issued the Can Vuong edict before being captured by the colonialist French and put to exile in Algeria until his last days. However, art historically, his role has not been properly recognised until recently. Few are aware that Ham Nghi was the first Vietnamese painter to have received training under Western academia, precursoring the Indochine art movement, which was the beginning of Vietnamese modern art.”  – Curator Ace Le. 

During his exile in Algeria, Emperor Ham Nghi constantly nurtured a silent dream of returning home, turning to painting as a way to express his inner thoughts: “These works […] are, so to speak, an integral part of my life; I read on my canvases: the vicissitudes of my sad thoughts, my joy and their thousand nuances, and I smooth over all the folds of my heart, one by one, and it is for me a source from which I draw: both encouragement and consolation.” – Draft of a letter from Ham Nghi to Colonel de Gondrecourt, 1 January 1897. BHN 4.14, FHN, excerpted from the research of Dr Amandine Dabat.

As part of the celebrations marking the 950th anniversary of the Imperial Academy’s founding (1076–2026), Mr Le Xuan Kieu – Director of the Temple of Literature’s Cultural and Scientific Activity Centre – stated: “An art event of such scale as ‘Allusive Panorama’ makes a vital contribution to the journey of transforming this heritage site into a unique creative space. Displaying the former Emperor’s works at the Temple of Literature is a tribute to the intellectual values that have always been cherished throughout our nation’s history. We believe this exhibition will establish the site as a premier destination for the public during this year’s festivities, continuing to nurture our cultural heritage.”

This year, the Institut Français du Vietnam continues its role as a co-organiser for the Hanoi leg of the exhibition. Mr Éric Soulier – Director of the Institut Français du Vietnam – shared: “This exhibition stands as a compelling testament to the convergence of art, history and the shared memory of Vietnam and France. It offers the public a rare opportunity to engage with the deeply evocative perspective of former Emperor Ham Nghi, both a singular historical figure and a gifted artist. The Institut français du Vietnam believes that this significant project has contributed, and will continue to contribute, to fostering cultural dialogue while underscoring the enduring ties between the two nations, particularly in the fields of art and heritage.”

Alongside the main exhibition, the event will feature a diverse programme of satellite activities, including curated tours and talks led by the curatorial team and invited experts. On 25 April 2026, a special art roundtable will take place at the Nguy Nhu Kon Tum Hall, located on the historic campus shared by the Faculty of Chemistry (VNU University of Science and Hanoi University of Pharmacy). This occasion invites the public to explore the profound repatriation journey of these works while situating Emperor Ham Nghi’s pivotal role within the trajectory of Vietnamese art history. Notably, the opening ceremony of  “Allusive Panorama” will be helmed by director Viet Tu in his role as Creative Director. Furthermore, the event is supported by HDBank Priority, cultural partner UNESCO Information Centre (UNET), media partner Ngay Nay e-magazine, and several other organisations.

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Curatorial Team:

Curator Ace Le

Ace Le is a curator specialising in Vietnamese art. He is a Senior Consultant at Sotheby’s, having curated its pioneering Indochine exhibitions “Timeless Souls: Beyond the Voyage” (2022) and “The Faraway East: of Dreams and Pursuits” (2023). In 2025, he co-curated “Allusive Panorama”, S. M. Ham Nghi’s first retrospective exhibition in Vietnam. Ace Le is the Founding Director of the non-profit Lan Tinh Foundation (since 2021), Editor-in-Chief of Art Nation (since 2021), a member of the Board of Management for Lebadang Creative Fund (since 2025), an an Advisor for UOB Painting of the Year (since 2024), Vincom Contemporary Centre of the Art (since 2022), and Vietnam Contemporary Art Database (2022-24). As a representative in the International Arts Leaders 2022-23 programme by the Australia Council for the Arts, he was a Resident Scholar at Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art. Ace Le holds an MA in Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices, and a Master in Media and Communication from Nanyang Technological University, and a BBA(H) from National University of Singapore. In 2024, Tatler honoured Ace Le among its Asia’s Most Influential list.

Dr Amandine Dabat

Dr Amandine Dabat is a fifth-generation descendant of Emperor Ham Nghi. She organised the first exhibition dedicated to the Emperor in May 2022, titled “The Art of Exile – Ham Nghi, Prince of Annam (1871–1944)” at the Musée des Arts Asiatiques in Nice, France. In Vietnam, she has been instrumental in the repatriation of the Emperor’s artworks, including the original oil painting “Lac sur les Alpes (Lake in the Alps, 1900–1903)”, and the donation of the Emperor’s personal pipe to the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre. Dr Dabat earned her PhD in Art History from Paris-Sorbonne University – Paris IV (ED 124, CREOPS) with the thesis “Ham Nghi – Empereur en exil, artiste à Alger (Ham Nghi – Exiled Emperor, Artist in Alger)”. Her thesis was published in 2019 by Sorbonne University Press, France, with the Vietnamese edition released in 2024 by the Social Sciences Publishing House.

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Event Organisers:

Art Nation

Art Nation is currently the leading and sole bilingual art publication in Vietnam. Originating in Singapore and entering the Vietnamese market in late 2019, Art Nation has published 10 editions, with over 20,000 print copies distributed across Vietnam and the region, alongside more than 30 annual art events. Art Nation aims to create an open and sustainable art community, shaping and disseminating in-depth artistic discourse while connecting the flow of art history both domestically and internationally.

Institut français du Vietnam

The Institut français in Vietnam is an institution attached to the French Embassy in Vietnam and operates under the oversight of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. Its mission is to promote French culture, language, science, and education in Vietnam through a variety of activities, including cultural and linguistic outreach; academic and scientific cooperation, including in the health sector; education and training; legal cooperation; and support for non-governmental initiatives in partnership with local authorities and civil society organizations.

Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam.

Established in 1988, the Centre for Cultural and Scientific Activities of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is a public service entity tasked with the management of the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam). Its core functions include organising cultural and scientific activities, as well as providing reception and guided services for visitors to the historic site.