Artist Dang Ai Viet (b. 1948) travels by motorbike across Vietnam in the hope that the thousands of women who lost their loved ones during the war will not be forgotten.

Viet has painted portraits of more than 3,000 heroic Vietnamese mothers. Her trek is a fast march, much like when she fought in the resistance, as lonely mothers wait for her ahead.

Outstanding itinerary

The artist (whose real name is Dang Thi Bong) has had a very eventful life. At the age of 15, she joined the resistance war against American troops.

Bong then became a singer with the Liberation Art Troupe. But the big turning point in her life came when she attended a painting class held in the war zone (1964). From then on, she called herself Dang Ai Viet (which literally means "I love Vietnam").

Painter Dang Ai Viet (left) talks about her journey and her willingness to paint. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Dang Ai Viet's existence as an artist was inextricably linked to the brutal war with the United States. She painted while surrounded by gunfire and bomb smoke in the trenches. Countless sketches of battles were created. Viet and her colleagues trailed each battleground to paint.

Perhaps the sacrifice of her comrades on the battlefield left a strong impression on artist Dang Ai Viet. When the country was liberated, the artist always thought with deep sympathy for the mothers whose children had sacrificed. So after retiring from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in 2007, Viet embarked on her own silent journey to paint portraits of heroic Vietnamese mothers. Some people advised her to concentrate on her work to leave her name in the art industry. Besides, she was too old and weak to travel around the country.  But on February 19, 2010, Viet set off on a 50cc motorbike with boxes of paint and a brush on her shoulder.

On her first trip through Vietnam, she traveled about 300 km a day. She drove so much that her motorcycle was worn out. After much damage, it still creaked faithfully on every trip.

In the end, it could not withstand the tenacity of its owner. The bike is now stored at the Vietnam Women's Union Museum with a mileage of 39,000 km. In 2012, it was replaced by another bicycle. So far, this bike has traveled 67,000 km with her.

Some portraits of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers by Dang Ai Viet. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Each picture of the heroic mother has a secret miracle that is revealed differently.  The mothers all confided in her the feelings that had been hidden in their hearts for many years. The artist painted with these hidden feelings. Many times she cried while painting. She always believed, "I am not only painting the faces of the mothers, but also their eyes, their smiles, and their souls.

Many exhibitions have displayed portraits of heroic mothers made by artist Dang Ai Viet. At present, these paintings are stored and exhibited in museums in the country.

Heroic painter

The tireless and compassionate work of artist Dang Ai Viet has been rewarded. She was conferred the title of Hero of Labor on November 13, 2020. She is the first artist to receive this noble title from the State.

Former National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (right) visits the exhibition in Hanoi. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

In the past six months, Viet has traveled more than 10,000 kilometers. She knows she is in a race against time. "My biggest fear is that the heroic mothers will leave because they are all old. And I don't want to miss anyone," said artist Dang Ai Viet.

In 2013, the government awarded the title of heroic mother to 130,000 mothers who had lost children or husbands in the war. Viet found this list and knew that about 4,000 mothers were still alive. To date, the artist has completed 3,000 portraits of Vietnamese heroic mothers.

Recently, she presented 63 portraits of Vietnamese heroic mothers at the exhibition Tam hoa tri an (Grateful Portraits Painted from the Heart) in Hanoi. The exhibition will last until next Saturday at the Vietnamese Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi. Viet also donated the paintings to the museum for preservation and display.

The exhibition arouses pride and gratitude among the youth. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Thu Hien said the exhibition was organized to introduce to the public the portraits of Vietnamese heroic mothers and the journey of artist Dang Ai Viet over more than a decade. 

"We believe that these priceless works of art will be solemnly preserved in the museum so that our descendants will be proud of the tradition of Vietnamese women and admire the heart of an artist who has made this meaningful journey," Hien said.