Discovering Vietnamese cuisine through illustrations

The culinary theme is simple and familiar, but it still appears vivid and new through the perspective and visual techniques of 36 illustrators, most of whom are young. Some authors choose cute and bright drawing styles like children's paintings, while some others chose explosive colors and stylised patterns.

Notably, a painter chose to illustrate Quang Nam noodles by 3D paper-cutting and folding art, meticulous in each detail. At the exhibition, the organising board arranged a live interactive space to encourage visitors to share their favourite restaurants and create a local food map for everyone.

As the name suggests, the exhibition introduces images of popular dishes of Vietnamese people in different regions, or famous specialties and traditional dishes for festivals such as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn.

Each dish has a flavour associated with the characteristics of the terrain, climate and local taste. For example, the work “Tao meo” by young artist Pham Tien Chung from Yen Bai Province harmoniously depicts the landscape of winding terraced fields, mountains and forests and H'Mong girls in colourful brocade costumes, as the background for food and drink made from tao meo (Rosacea) fruit, a typical product of many northern mountainous provinces.

In addition, the painting “Huong vi cua bien” (The taste of the sea) by Pham Dinh Tuan features the fish noodle soup of Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa Province) and is cleverly embellished by symbols of the coastal city such as Tram Huong Tower, Ponagar Temple and the images of boats reaching out to sea. Many other dishes, such as che bot loc heo quay (rice balls with roasted pork filling sweet soup) of Hue ancient city, banh da cua (crab rice noodle soup) of Hai Phong City, xu xoa (dried seaweed) of Quang Ngai Province, banh cuon Gia Lai (Gia Lai steamed rice rolls) and Long Xuyen broken rice (An Giang Province), etc., are also reflected through the paintings with different unique and fun ideas.

For those who have been living in Hanoi or for visitors to the capital city, the painting “Mieng ngon Hanoi” (Delicious dishes of Hanoi) by Lam Thuy Hang can make them want to immediately take a "food tour" around the capital city to enjoy various famous dishes such as pho bo (beef noodle soup), cha ca (fish balls), bun cha (vermicelli with grilled pork and fresh herbs), bun rieu (crab vermicelli soup), bun dau mam tom (noodle with fried tofu and shrimp paste), banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) and bun oc (snail noodle soup).

Meanwhile, painter Toa Vien (born in 2005) impresses viewers with a combination of painting and literature when integrating classic literary images such as Lao Hac, Chi Pheo and Thi No into the painting “Noi ca kho ngay ay” (The pot of braised fish on that day), which received the most likes and comments when published on the exhibition’s fanpage.

In addition to honouring the richness of Vietnamese cuisine and telling regional cultural stories, the painters also convey their own memories through the dishes of their hometowns, families and childhood. For example, through the illustration painting entitled “Com” (Rice), young painter Kieu Trang, born and raised in a rural area on the outskirts of Hanoi, highlights the fragrant aroma of ripe rice while honouring the farmers’ diligence.

For most people, the most delicious and dearest flavours are associated with the image of mothers. Despite sharing the same idea of drawing a mother in a small kitchen, the illustrations “Bep cua me” (Mother’s kitchen” by Mai Hoa and “Ca vao tay me” (Fish in mother’s hands) by Chi Chi have different content, context and style.

In addition, there are illustrations featuring dishes processed by many members in the family together such as “Sang gao cung ba” (Sieving rice with grandmother), “Banh dau xanh tai gia” (Homemade green bean cake) and “Cong trinh banh chung” (Chung cake project). Accordingly, cuisine is considered as a glue that “binds” people together, creating a family culture and positive sentiment among neighbours.

Currently, food illustration is a field of painting industry that has developed quite quickly and attracted many young artists. Drawing traditional food in a modern method can tell historical-cultural stories in an attractive way while also raising a sense of travel and experience inspiration.

The exhibition was launched on the Vietnam Local Artist Group forum with 110,000 members and was organised under the support of Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee, showing the potential of this art form in contributing to expanding creative spaces in the capital city as well as promoting cultural values to both domestic and international public.