» Artist » Truong Hieu

Truong Hieu (b. 1939, Vietnam) belongs to the generation of artists whose lives and work were inseparable from the decades-long anti-American war. Trained at the Vietnam College of Fine Arts, Hieu was conscripted in 1965 and spent the next decade moving with his unit through some of the most intense battlefields, including the Ho Chi Minh Trail and Cu Chi during the 1968 Tet Offensive.

Though he considered himself first a soldier rather than a war artist, Truong Hieu painted whenever he could – in trenches, in temporary shelters, often under threat of fire. His sketches and paintings from this period are remarkable for their immediacy and intimacy, offering an unflinching record of soldiers’ lives, the landscape of war, and the final days before reunification in 1975.

After returning to Hanoi, Hieu worked for the General Department of Politics, the Department of Culture Thought Politburo, and the Military Publishing Department before retiring in 1986. He later dedicated himself to children’s publishing and illustration with Kim Đồng Publishing House, yet continued to paint – sustaining a lifelong commitment to art as both witness and testimony to his era.

Studio Visit with Truong Hieu

In this 25-minute video interview, Truong Hieu reflects on his artistic journey, from his school days to life during and after the war. Starting with a nostalgic reminiscence of milk flowers, wild mango trees and floating lotuses, he shares how the scenery of his hometown helped foster a passion for drawing, leading him to artist Nguyen Tien Chung and eventually his enrolment in the To Ngoc Van course at the Vietnam University of Fine Art. Truong Hieu goes on to discuss his determination to join the war, resulting in a 10-year collection of artworks comprising sketches drawn in the rare moments of free time on the battlefield. To Truong Hieu, sketching is like his “breath of life”: it has remained a vigorous part of his livelihood up until now, as he reveals further details about The Land of Memories, a recent project on which he is working.

This video is part of a series of interviews by Nguyễn Art Foundation.