The tale of Kieu

Creative direction and styling: Emily Truong

Photography: Daniella Almona

Photo editing: Lucas Tam

Assistants: Xavier Thompson / Lexi Anthia Waldman

Models: Nguyen Ho / Thuy Ngo

Translation: Huynh Sanh Thong, Yale University Press, 1987.

“The Tale of Kieu” is a visual exploration of the classic 19th-century Vietnamese epic poem “Truyen Kieu” by Nguyen Du, more specifically the opening lines (15 – 26) which describe the sisters Thuy Kieu, the main character, and Thuy Van.

This body of work uses natural elements to highlight the beauty of each sister. Flower petals symbolize the soft and innocent femininity of the traditional Vietnamese woman — represented by Thuy Van. As for Thuy Kieu, the more beautiful and less lucky sister, she posesses a grace that could turn nature against her out of jealousy.

Even though we are visualizing beauty standards from past society, we still wanted to stay in touch with a more contemporary set up.

“Đầu lòng hai ả tố nga,
Thuý Kiều là chị, em là Thuý Vân.
Mai cốt cách, tuyết tinh thần.
Mỗi người một vẻ, mười phân vẹn mười.
Vân xem trang trọng khác vời,
Khuôn trăng đầy đặn, nét ngài nở nang.
Hoa cười, ngọc thốt, đoan trang,
Mây thua nước tóc, tuyết nhường màu da.
Kiều càng sắc sảo mặn mà,
So bề tài sắc vẫn là phần hơn.
Làn thu thuỷ, nét xuân sơn,
Hoa ghen thua thắm, liễu hờn kém xanh.”

“Two daughters, beauties both, had come before:
Thuý Kiều was oldest, younger was Thuý Vân.
Bodies like slim plum branches, snow-pure souls:
each her own self, each perfect in her way.
In quiet grace Vân was beyond compare:
her face a moon, her eyebrows two full curves;
her smile a flower, her voice the song of jade;
her hair the sheen of clouds, her skin white snow.
Yet Kiều possessed a keener, deeper charm,
surpassing Vân in talents and in looks.
Her eyes were autumn streams, her brows spring hills.
Flowers grudged her glamor, willows her fresh hue.”