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| Dr. Amandine Dabat shared about the life and artistic legacy of Emperor Ham Nghi |
This program is part of a series of events to celebrate the Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Day on November 23, organized by Hue Monuments Conservation Center. The discussion was attended by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, along with representatives of departments and agencies, leaders of the French Institute in Vietnam, Hue researchers, and descendants of Emperor Ham Nghi. The discussion was also attended and supported by the French Institute in Vietnam and two Vietnamese translation publishing and distribution organizations namely the Institute for Preservation and Development of Traditional Culture (IPDTC) and the ART30 Gallery.
The book titled “Ham Nghi: The Exiled Emperor - An Artist in Algiers” by Dr. Amandine Dabat is a research work on the life and career of Emperor Ham Nghi, both as a patriotic emperor and a talented painter during his exile in France and Algeria. The book delves into the lesser-known artistic side of the emperor, one of the artists who left a distinctive mark on modern Vietnamese fine arts.
At the discussion, thanks to the sharing from the author and speaker Amandine Dabat, who has devoted many years to researching the life and artistic legacy of Emperor Ham Nghi, the audience had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the ups and downs of the exiled emperor, who always yearned for his homeland and people. The audience also explored the emperor’s artistic talent, his creative process, and the artistic values that he left behind.
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| “The pair of royal chopsticks made of walrus ivory” was handed over by the descendants of Emperor Ham Nghi at the event |
On this occasion, the descendants of Emperor Ham Nghi have handed over to Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, under the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, many valuable artifacts of Emperor Ham Nghi, including: a wooden tray inlaid with mother-of-pearl; a set of books titled “Ngu che canh chuc do” (2 volumes); “Dan do huyen chi” (26 volumes); “Tang dinh thi kinh the chi dien nghia” (5 volumes); a pair of royal chopsticks made of walrus ivory, given by Empress Dowager Tu Du to Mrs. Phan Thi Hoa to use during Emperor Ham Nghi’s meals (during the Can Vuong period of 1885 - 1889); a pair of porcelain bowls, and items belonging to Emperor Ham Nghi’s family.
Among these artifacts, the “wooden tray inlaid with mother-of-pearl” and the “Set of Han (Chinese script) books” originally belonged to Emperor Ham Nghi. The tray was one of the precious items he brought from Vietnam, which he always kept close as a memento of his homeland. The books are among the few remaining books that Emperor Ham Nghi read when he was away from home. These valuable artifacts were carefully preserved by Princess Nhu Mai, Emperor Ham Nghi’s eldest daughter, to commemorate her father. These items hold great cultural and historical value, and contribute to enriching the collection of heritages about Emperor Ham Nghi at Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities.
In addition to the cooperation, contributions and donations regarding Emperor Ham Nghi’s artifacts to Thua Thien Hue Province, Dr. Amandine Dabat and her family also donated a “smoking pipe” of Emperor Ham Nghi to the People's Committee of Cam Lo District, Quang Tri Province, and an oil painting of Emperor Ham Nghi to Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
According to Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center, the activities at this event hold significant importance in the field of cultural diplomacy, making a strong impact on the public and those interested in cultural, historical, and artistic research. Beyond providing valuable insights into the life of Emperor Ham Nghi, contributing to introducing, promoting, and enhancing the images of cultural heritage values of Hue - Vietnam, this event, above all, demonstrates a collective commitment to the convergence of heritages in Hue. In the coming time, Thua Thien Hue Province, Hue Monuments Conservation Center, and relevant agencies will continue to promote a number of cooperation and cultural exchange activities with domestic and international organizations and individuals so as to collect more important documents and artifacts, enriching and deepening the historical story of Hue Ancient Capital.
Hue Monuments Conservation Center, in collaboration with the Art Republik Magazine and non-profit organization Lan Tinh Foundation, is planning to organize an exhibition on the artistic life of Emperor Ham Nghi in March 2025 at Kien Trung Palace, Hue Imperial Citadel.
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| The exhibition space “Emperor Ham Nghi - Life and Art” at Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities |
The paintings of Emperor Ham Nghi are co-appraised by art researcher Ace Le and Dr. Amandine Dabat. The French Institute in Vietnam will serve as a community connection partner throughout the event. The exhibition will be one of the special art events showcasing the original 20 oil paintings of Emperor Ham Nghi. These works belong to various private collections and have undergone an appraisal process by leading experts in the field of fine arts.
The exhibition not only offers Vietnamese audiences an opportunity to admire valuable artworks representing an entire historical period, but also provides a chance to better understand the soul and talent of a patriotic emperor, who expressed his love for his homeland and his personal sentiments through painting. The organization of the aforementioned discussion and exhibition plan is one of the efforts to preserve and promote the cultural and artistic values of the heritages of Hue Ancient Capital. This is also an opportunity to promote Vietnamese culture to international friends and to affirm Hue's position as a unique cultural center in the region and the world. Director Hoang Viet Trung believed that this event not only helps to preserve the nation's cultural heritages but also creates opportunities for young generations to interact and learn, helping them better understand the history and artistic values of Vietnam.
Art historian Amandine Dabat is the 5th descendant of Emperor Ham Nghi - the great-granddaughter of Princess Nhu Ly (Emperor Ham Nghi’s daughter). She holds a PhD in Art History from Sorbonne University, and a Master's in Vietnamese Studies from Paris 7-Diderot University. In 2015, she successfully defended her doctoral dissertation at the France National Institute of Art History (in Paris) on Emperor Ham Nghi, titled “Ham Nghi: The Exiled Emperor - An Artist in Algiers”.