Oil paintings by Dang Mau Tuu show both the abstractive strokes of the modern painting genre and exaggerated strokes of Chinese painting. When scrutinizing his painting, particularly those of Hue, viewers can sense the distinctive characteristics of the people of Hue , namely being elegance, modesty and wisdom.   “The hamlet at the foot of the citadel”. “War”. “Tuong mask”. “The tide”. With colours of green, red, black and yellow, his paintings, such as “Woman sitting at a corner” or “The hamlet at the foot of the citadel”, are not flamboyant, but rather gentle, insightful yet sad, conveying the soul of Hue. Apart from paintings about Hue, Tuu also creates works about Binh Dinh Province, his native land. These paintings, particularly those of the masks used in Tuong (classical drama) are both strange and familiar, giving viewers a reason to deeply think about what they are seeing. Tuu’s paintings, both clear and obscure, reveal many layers, tones and dimensions, all the while masking the artist's innermost feelings and emotions. Story by Thanh Hoa - Photos by Trong Chinh