Gửi bình luận
DNO - Vietnamese artist Nemoo living in the U.S. transforms homesickness into art, painting Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups in timeless portraits that preserve cultural pride and carry the nation’s spirit to inspire global audiences.
At 27, Vietnamese artist Truong An Dan, better known by his artistic name Nemoo, spends his nights painting visions of home. His brushstrokes carry the breath of Vietnam, weaving nostalgia and national pride into works that are both deeply personal and unmistakably Vietnamese.
His breakthrough came with “54 Viet Toc” (54 Vietnamese Ethnic Groups), a collection portraying women from Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups in traditional attire. Far more than aesthetic beauty, the series is a cultural bridge, designed so viewers instantly recognize the spirit of Vietnam.
Drawing inspiration from the Hang Trong folk painting style, Nemoo softened his figures with round faces, serene gazes, and stylized grace, deliberately crafting “profile pictures” for each ethnic community.
Researching costumes and traditions from afar was no easy task. Without formal art training, Nemoo scoured books, online archives and community feedback. Over two months, he created 54 paintings that drew a great deal of public attention.
The series was showcased at “Vietnam Day Abroad” in Brazil (2024) and has been chosen as the centerpiece of Vietnam’s Pavilion at the EXPO Osaka 2025.
In fact, his projects range from celebrating childhood games in ‘Children of Vietnam” to preserving family memories through vintage household objects.
Recently, Nemoo unveiled “A Confident Smile”, which depicts a child gazing proudly into a mirror for the first time, a red scarf draped across the shoulder, a quiet yet powerful symbol of pride and future hope.
What unites all of Nemoo’s projects is the imprint of Vietnam. Whether exploring traditional fashion, childhood memories, or history, he remains faithful to Vietnamese elements, from lines and characters to the smallest details.
What makes Nemoo’s journey remarkable is that he never received formal art training.
Growing up in the Mekong Delta, he would draw on walls, in the yard, on scraps of paper, anywhere he could.
After graduating in Logistics and moving to the U.S. to work in a nail salon, his childhood passion never faded.
By day he earned a living, by night he taught himself to paint, building skill canvas by canvas. ‘Nail is just my job. Painting is my calling”, he said firmly.