This non-commercial exhibition brought together over 20 original oil landscape paintings created by Emperor Ham Nghi during his exile, assembled from 10 private collections. The artworks have been authenticated, conserved, and restored by leading experts and were co-curated by art researcher Ace Le and Dr Amandine Dabat, 5th-generation descendant of Emperor Ham Nghi. Beyond paintings, “Allusive Panorama” also features 12 calligraphy works based on the poetry from the Can Vuong movement.
The homecoming of these paintings to a space that was once a Nguyen royal residence is a tribute from current generations to the patriotic Emperor. This was an opportunity for the Vietnamese public to admire the aesthetics of Emperor Ham Nghi’s paintings within an exhibition space adhering to international museum standards.
Dr Amandine Dabat, a co-curator, shared that “Allusive Panorama” exclusively showcased paintings never exhibited before, even in France.
“The public knows of Emperor Ham Nghi as a national hero who issued the Can Vuong royal edict with the ambition of reclaiming national sovereignty from the French colonialists,” stated co-curator Ace Le. “However, not many know that he was also one of the first two Vietnamese artists (alongside Le Van Mien) to be formally trained in Western academic painting methods, thus establishing himself as a pioneer at the dawn of modern Vietnamese fine art. Ham Nghi’s paintings are a unique blend of artistic talent and patriotic sentiments, conveying a deep longing for his homeland and a subtle resistance against oppression in his exile.”
