On April 5, at the Ho Guom Cultural Information Center, artist Bui Quoc Toan opened his exhibition “Pure Light Through the Glass”, showcasing portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and key leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam across generations. All eight works on display are crafted entirely from glass.

Speaking to VietNamNet, Toan said the exhibition, held in the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025), was his way of paying heartfelt tribute to the great figures who devoted their lives to the revolution, the liberation and unification of the country, and to bringing peace and prosperity to the people.

“Glass, like steel, must undergo the fire to become strong and enduring. This symbolizes the revolutionary spirit of Communist soldiers who remained unshaken in the face of hardship, imprisonment, and even death,” Toan explained, sharing why he chose glass as his primary medium.

In place of traditional brushes, Bui Quoc Toan used a hammer to intentionally shatter panes of glass - his "tool of creation."

“These intentional impacts produce extraordinary works. At each point of fracture, light refracts and creates a gem-like glow. What once seemed fragile becomes a canvas of resilience, with millions of tiny shards reflecting light to form the image of a great leader - President Ho Chi Minh - and his most outstanding disciples. Though these figures have passed, their virtues and immense contributions to the nation endure, shining like precious crystal, guiding and inspiring future generations,” he said.

Through the exhibition, artist Bui Quoc Toan delivers a message to today’s youth: “We live in peace and happiness thanks to those who came before us. Never forget to honor the legacy of our ancestors, who built and protected this country.”