Origin

The digital painting Origin (2022) is a representation of Vietnam's origin legend of how the country came to be. The myth tells that the fairy princess of the mountains, Âu Cơ, fell in love with the dragon king of the ocean, Lạc Long Quân. It is believed that they had 100 children, who became the first inhabitants of Vietnam. The lovers had to return to their respective kingdoms. Âu Cơ returned to the mountains, while Lạc Long Quân returned to the seas, each taking 50 children with them. Today, the Vietnamese people are known as the people of the land and sea, having adapted to living on a peninsula and known for their eagerness to survive.  

While the artwork depicts mythological heroes, it represents a cultural symbol of Vietnam, depicting the ever-alive spirit of the Vietnamese people who have faced endless invasions and war. As a Vietnamese artist, I felt compelled to recreate a cultural symbol that could unite the Vietnamese diaspora.