German exhibition highlights Vietnamese literary classic

Inspired by "Truyen Kieu" (The Tale of Kieu), German artist Franca Bartholomäi created ingenious artworks from wood and paper, introducing Kieu, the main female character in the poem, to international art lovers.

A total 24 large-sized wood and papercuts are showcased at the exhibition, contemplating the Vietnamese literary classic and the role of women in the modern world.

Franca Bartholomäi at the "A Girl Named K" exhibition in Hanoi, October 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Minh.

Held in Germany by Saxony-Anhalt State Art Foundation and Hanoi Goethe Institute with sponsorship from the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, the exhibition runs from June 3 to Aug. 1.

According to Director of Saxony-Anhalt State Art Foundation, Manon Bursian, the exhibition is a major international cooperation project, contributing to promoting cultural exchange and understanding between German and Vietnamese.

Throughout the years, "Truyen Kieu" has been translated into different languages and is considered to belong to the world literary canon, among the works of Cervantes, Chekhov, Shakespeare and Goethe.

The 3,254-line poem has also been adapted to various art forms by Vietnamese living in Vietnam, as well as foreign artists and overseas Vietnamese.

The "A Girl Named K" exhibition featuring Franca Bartholomäi's wood and papercuts about "Truyen Kieu" was also held in Hanoi during October 2019.