Love may not be a single, straightforward emotion; rather, it is one of the most complex human experiences. Each person perceives love differently, shaped by the unique journey of their life.
In Season 1 of Yêu Lành podcast, we witnessed love through the lens of mindfulness, from the perspective of a religious practitioner. In Season 2, love took on a different meaning through the eyes of an investor, while Season 3 explored the emotions of a musician.
Now, in Season 4, through the viewpoint of someone who has lived nearly a century, worked across various fields, and observed many significant events in the nation’s history, love is not just about romantic love but something much greater.
It is also a love for art, the homeland, and the things most dear to oneself. When one knows how to love in this way, they will have healthy love in any relationship in life. This is the message that the director, author, and founder of Lotus Gallery, Nguyễn Thị Xuân Phượng, wants to share with viewers in Season 4 of Yêu Lành podcast.
Love for art can return at any time in our lives
From a young age, Xuân Phượng had a deep love for painting. However, it wasn't until she was 55 years old that she could cultivate this passion into something meaningful.
At that time, although she had reached retirement age in Vietnam, she still had a burning desire to pursue a new big goal. So she went to France. During her time there, she noticed that the international perception of Vietnam was narrowly focused on war and poverty, overlooking the country’s rich cultural and artistic heritage.
This inspired Xuân Phượng to present a different image of Vietnam and bring Vietnamese art to the world. With her existing love for painting, she decided to invest $2,000 she had saved into opening an art gallery. Her goal was twofold: to promote Vietnamese culture and to support talented artists who had not yet gained recognition.
Among many symbols of Vietnam, Xuân Phượng was particularly impressed with the lotus flower. A flower that "grows in mud but does not smell like mud," and its leaves remain dry even in heavy rain. The lotus symbolizes the resilience of the Vietnamese people, who always strive to rise above hardship. Inspired by this symbol, she named her gallery Lotus.
Opening gallery as practice for a healthy love
Xuân Phượng believes that the concept of "love at first sight" does not exist in art. To truly love a painting, one must spend time observing and appreciating its beauty. Looking at art gives her a sense of inner peace, which is another method to practice healthy love.
Opening an art gallery at nearly 60 years old with just $2,000 was a risky decision, but it also reflected Xuân Phượng's philosophy of "hard work pays off." When a journey begins on a rocky, uneven path, reaching smoother ground feels much easier than the reverse.
She was willing to make personal sacrifices, often taking on financial burdens to sustain the gallery and support the artists. However, in those early, challenging days, the greatest difficulty she faced wasn’t financial—it was forming emotional bonds with the artists she worked with.
Many of the artists she helped promote and exhibit eventually gained fame. Ironically, as their work became more valuable, she could no longer afford to buy their pieces. It was a bittersweet experience, similar to the pain of ending a relationship. The love (for art) remained, but the people she loved (the artists) had moved on to work with other galleries.
But after a while, Xuân Phượng understood that like a fledgling bird that must eventually soar, artists too must grow and seek new horizons. She cherishes the time they spent together and holds no resentment. Their departure does not diminish the beauty of their work. This is the maturity in love that we all strive for.
Most importantly, their leaving did not signal the end of her love for art. She continues to travel around Vietnam, searching for “hidden gems” in the art world and helping them shine.
This journey, with its pauses and sprints, has been a continuous source of happiness for her. It’s a reminder of a saying we often hear about love: "Happiness is a journey, not a destination".
Translated by Thúy An