Although it has been more than 30 years since Lưu Quang Vũ and Xuân Quỳnh died, the public continues to cherish their poems. Photo courtesy of the couple's family
HÀ NỘI A series of cultural and art events will be held from August 25 to September 1 in Hà Nội to commemorate poetry couple Lưu Quang Vũ and Xuân Quỳnh.
Art exhibition Mây Trắng Vẫn Bay Về (White Cloud Still Flies) will open the series with the participation of ten established artists including Lê Thiết Cương, Lê Quảng Hà, Hoàng Phượng Vỹ and Đào Hải Phong.
The artists will display their latest works, including paintings and sculptures, inspired by the poems of Vũ and Quỳnh.
One painting by Vỹ was inspired by the poem Cột Đèn Góc Phố (Electricity Pole at Street Corner).
The poem was penned by Quỳnh in 1967 about a pole on the street by which children played games. The poem also recounts the children’s memories of the pole after being evacuated far away to rural villages during the American air war against North Việt Nam.
“I made the painting with all my memory about Hà Nội's streets with electricity poles in war time,” Vỹ said. “The painting with a deep tone symbolises time but still flashes with the faces and glances of the children. It represents hope for a future without war.”
Quỳnh is considered one of the leading female poets of the second half of the 20th century. She was part of the first training course for young writers by the Việt Nam Writers' Association.
She worked at Literature and Arts and Việt Nam Woman magazines and was member of the association in 1967.
Her poetry is rich in emotions and deep, refined feelings, but behind that sentiment is a generalised and philosophical thought, according to veteran poet Vũ Quần Phương.
She was posthumously given the State Award for Literature and Arts in 2001, 13 years after her family’s death in a car accident.
She married noted playwright and poet Vũ in 1973.
Vũ was influential in the country’s theatrical renewal process. At the age of 40, he had written about 50 scripts which were staged by popular directors such as Nguyễn Đình Nghi, Phạm Thị Thành and Doãn Hoàng Giang.
An extract of Lưu Quang Vũ's play Tin Ở Hoa Hồng (Believe in Rose) will be performed on August 29 at Ơ Kìa Hà Nội Art Space at 639/39/39 Hoàng Hoa Thám Street. Photo Việt Nam Youth Theatre
He was also posthumously given the Hồ Chí Minh Award for Literature and Art in 2000.
During 15 happy years together, the two poets continued to write and made significant contributions to the development of Vietnamese literature.
The series of event will include film shows, a talk show, a concert, art performances and Mây Trắng (White Cloud) Poetry Room inaugural at Ơ Kìa Hà Nội (Oh Hà Nội) Art Space.
The room is made by independent filmmaker Nguyễn Hoàng Điệp and dedicated to the couple.
“We hope to have a space for displaying documents about the couple and to connect poetry lovers,” Điệp said.
To build the room, Điệp asked the couple’s family for permission to visit their room in an old house at 98A Phố Huế Street.
“The old and very small room has only two large book cases covering the walls, an altar and a garret," Điệp said. "The documents, certificates, pictures and many books are kept in good condition by Vũ’s younger sister Lưu Khánh Thơ.”
At the beginning, Điệp wanted to restore the room the couple used to live in. But after visiting, she decided to recreate the room in an installation at Ơ Kìa Hà Nội Art Space.
Điệp called on people to contribute books published before 1988. The couple’s works were scanned from their original manuscripts to be displayed in the room.
The display includes excerpts from Vũ’s diary, hand-written poems and love letters the couple sent to each other.
Documentary Lưu Quang Vũ – Xuân Quỳnh Gửi Lại (Lưu Quang Vũ – Xuân Quỳnh’s Remains) was made by Nguyễn Thước in 2008 on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the couple's death.
Điệp also visited Radio the Voice of Việt Nam to find a recording of the couple’s voices.
“Điệp did everything to cherish the memory of my brother and my sister-in-law,” Vũ’s sister Thơ said. “When the whole family heard their voices we were all very touched. This is really a miracle.”
All the events will be held at 639/39/39 Hoàng Hoa Thám Street and Hà Nội Industrial Fine Arts College. VNS
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