King Ham Nghi’s first exhibition after nearly a century

On March 19, the Asian Art Museum in Nice, France opened an exhibition introducing 150 artifacts, including many works of art and documents on display for the first time about King Ham Nghi. The exhibition was preserved and collected by historical researcher Amandine Dabat, the 5th generation descendant of King Ham Nghi, during the past decade.

With the name “Art of Exile”, the organizers hope that the contemporary public will have a fairly complete view of King Ham Nghi’s entire life as an artist and a patriotic king.

Ms. Amandine Dabat – Historical researcher, descendant of King Ham Nghi said: “This exhibition has special significance because the last time King Ham Nghi’s works were exhibited in 1926, the This exhibition brings together paintings, drawings, pastels, sculptures and objects belonging to King Ham Nghi. The exhibition, written by Ham Nghi himself, there are also his passport, marriage certificate and various other documents.It can be said that these are the archival documents that King Ham Nghi kept throughout his life. “.

Ham Nghi (1871-1944) real name Nguyen Phuc Ung Lich, was the eighth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, reigned for only one year (1884-1885). At the age of 18, due to his resistance to the establishment of a French protectorate in Indochina, he was exiled to Alger (the capital of Algeria). Strictly controlled by the French colonialists, preventing him from having any contact with his homeland, King Ham Nghi devoted all his passion to studying and creating art, especially painting and sculpture. He was a student of the famous painter Marius Reynaud and the sculptor Auguste Rodin and was also influenced by Paul Gauguin, the leading French post-impressionist painter. Three solo exhibitions of King Ham Nghi with the stage name Tu Xuan attracted the attention of the Parisian public in the early 20th century.

Mr. Adrien Bossard – Director of the Asian Art Museum, Nice, France shared: “It is interesting to see Ham Nghi experimenting with different art styles throughout his career. He has explored substances different materials, different art forms, so he’s a real artist.”

Exhibition “Art in Exile” will be open until June 26, 2022.

Book launch on King Ham Nghi in France

VTV.vn – This is a massive work of nearly 500 pages, including many personal documents, autographs as well as paintings and photos that have never been published of King Ham Nghi through the ages.

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