Still Life with Non Bai Tho

Oils on canvas
8 x 14"
2002

The people of Tay Ho village, on the banks of the Nhu Y River outside Hue, recall that Bui Quang Bac was the first to make Nón bài thơ (poetry hats) back in the 1660s.

Nón Bài Thõ, the traditional Vietnamese conical hat is crafted with poems weaved into the design and viewed when held up to the light.

Also called "poetical leaf".

This is painted from the poetical leaf I gave to my wife. She loves everything she knows about Vietnam. My memories, my photographs. And her own research and finds on the subject of Vietnam then, and now.

I introduced her to Vietnamese food in "Little Vietnam" in Chicago. I hadn't even tasted it while in Vietnam--C-rations were our fare (but I liked C-rats).