“Written symbols appear in almost all kinds of literature and art. It connects peoples and countries. It is the basis of civilisation.”

No wonder then that the 64-year-old has blurred the distinction between painting and writing in most of her 54 works that are on display at the Nhung Con Chu (Written Symbols) exhibition at the HCM City Fine Arts Association.

The works, 54 lacquer paintings and eight sculptures, have several novelists’ and poets’ handwriting on them.

Their appearance and meaning make the works even more appealing.

Her father Kim Lan is a popular writer who loves painting.

As a child Hien had the opportunity to meet famous writers, many of them her father’s close friends, like Nguyen Hong, Nguyen Cong Hoan, Van Cao, Ngo Tat To, Nguyen Tuan, and Nguyen Dinh Thi.

This is her fifth solo exhibition of such works since 2005, all organised under the theme The Flow in Ha Noi and HCM City.

She has also been a part of several group exhibitions since 1968.

Her works are displayed permanently at venues like the Viet Nam Museum, the National Fine Arts Museum, Revolution Museum, and the Army Museum in Da Nang.