From Paris to Vietnam, artist Mathilde Granveau has transformed traditional ethnic motifs, ancestral symbols, and cultural memories into a contemporary visual language that bridges cultures, generations, and human connections.Recently featured on TV5MONDE's Generation F, Mathilde’s journey is more than an artistic story. It is a reflection on identity, belonging, and the transformative power of cultural exchange.
1. From Paris to Da Nang: A New Beginning
More than three years ago, French visual artist Mathilde Granveau arrived in Da Nang alone. At the time, she was not searching for a new artistic career. Instead, she was looking for something far more personal: a way to reconnect with herself.
The TV5MONDE interview frames Mathilde Granveau’s journey through identity, belonging, and cultural exchange
Painting became a daily practice of exploration and reflection. Inside a sunlit loft studio overlooking the city, Mathilde spent hours experimenting with forms, colors, and movement. Natural light quickly became an essential part of her creative process, influencing both her emotional state and artistic direction.
Over time, Vietnam began to shape her work in unexpected ways. The landscapes, colors, and rhythms of daily life gradually merged with her background in Western abstraction, giving birth to a visual language uniquely her own. Today, her paintings often draw from a palette inspired by Vietnam itself:
- Golden yellows reminiscent of Central Vietnam’s sunlit beaches.
- Terracotta and earthy browns reflect soil, craftsmanship, and human warmth.
- Organic greens symbolize growth, nature, and renewal.
These colors became more than aesthetic choices. Over time, they evolved into a visual language shaped by places, memories, and experiences encountered throughout her journey.
Color, geometry, and place come together in Mathilde Granveau’s contemporary visual language
Natural light and Vietnam’s atmosphere shape Mathilde Granveau’s creative process
Explore the paintings to see how Vietnam’s colors continue to shape Mathilde’s evolving visual language.
2. Discovering Vietnamese Ancestral Symbols
While exploring Vietnam, Mathilde became increasingly fascinated by the rich cultural heritage of the country’s ethnic communities. Among her greatest sources of inspiration were the geometric motifs found in traditional brocade textiles. Far more than decorative elements, these patterns carry generations of cultural memory, spiritual beliefs, and ancestral knowledge.
Seeking a deeper understanding of their meaning, Mathilde travelled to Hoi An and visited the museum of French photographer Réhahn, whose extensive documentation of Vietnam’s ethnic groups has helped preserve countless stories and traditions.
There, she encountered recurring visual symbols such as:
- Spirals representing cycles of life and transformation.
- Diamond motifs are associated with protection, fertility, and continuity.
- Symmetrical structures expressing harmony and balance.
Vietnamese ancestral symbols and ethnic motifs reinterpreted through Mathilde Granveau’s contemporary paintings
Rather than reproducing these motifs directly, Mathilde approached them as a starting point for dialogue and reinterpretation through contemporary abstraction. Traditional structures became dynamic visual compositions that preserve a sense of memory while opening space for new readings. The result is a practice rooted in respect for cultural heritage while remaining firmly contemporary.
Discover how ancestral forms can become a contemporary language of balance, memory, and renewal.
3. Bringing Art Into Public Spaces
One of the most important aspects of Mathilde’s work is her desire to bring art beyond gallery walls and into everyday life. Public art creates opportunities for spontaneous encounters, conversations, and shared experiences that traditional exhibition spaces cannot always provide.
3.1. Sunlit Frescoes by the Sea
During a mural festival in Central Vietnam, Mathilde spent entire days painting beneath the sun, creating a large-scale fresco inspired by both solar imagery and ancestral textile patterns.
As the artwork gradually emerged, local residents regularly stopped to watch, ask questions, and share their impressions.These interactions became as meaningful as the artwork itself.
Public art creates a bridge between Mathilde Granveau and the local community. The experience reinforced her belief that art can build bridges between strangers and create moments of genuine human connection.
Mathilde Granveau painting a public mural under the Central Vietnam sun
3.2. The Story Behind the Danasol Mural
One of Mathilde’s earliest commercial mural projects was created for Danasol Coffee in Da Nang.
What began as an empty architectural space soon became one of the venue’s most recognizable visual elements.
The café owner recalls that visitors frequently ask about the meaning of the artwork and the artist behind it.
"Clients always ask about the meaning of this artwork and who created it. The feedback has been entirely positive."
The mural has become far more than decoration. It has evolved into part of the café’s identity and atmosphere.
The Danasol Coffee mural as part of the space’s visual identity Reflecting on the collaboration, the owner shared:
"We had nothing in this archway, and I felt your artwork would fit perfectly there. Your style truly represents the spirit of the café. I’m extremely happy to have this piece, and I would love for us to create another project together in the future—perhaps an even bigger one."
The project demonstrated how contemporary art can strengthen the identity of a space while creating memorable experiences for visitors.
Danasol Coffee in Da Nang, where Mathilde Granveau’s mural became part of the venue identity
For cafés, hotels, and cultural venues, a custom mural can turn an empty wall into a signature experience.
3.3. From Solo Exhibition to Curatorial Practice
After two years of independent artistic exploration, Mathilde and her collaborators reached a significant milestone with her first solo exhibition, Roots, presented at Maii Art Space in Ho Chi Minh City.
The exhibition featured twenty paintings created on circular, triangular, and hexagonal canvases. More than an exhibition, Roots was a gesture of gratitude, a tribute to the country and people who had welcomed her during a transformative period of her life.
The ROOTS solo exhibition by Mathilde Granveau at Maii Art Space in Ho Chi Minh City
Building on the momentum of Roots, Mathilde’s artistic journey eventually found a deeper and more permanent home at Secret Gallery Hoi An. Today, she embraces a new role as both artist and curator for the group exhibition Where Silence Speaks, expanding her practice beyond creating artworks to shaping meaningful dialogues between artists, audiences, and contemporary culture.
Secret Gallery Hoi An, the exhibition setting for Where Silence Speaks
The Where Silence Speaks exhibition invites visitors to step away from the constant noise of modern life and enter a quieter space of reflection, emotion, and presence.
The exhibition remains open daily until May 30th at the Secret Gallery in Hoi An. Whether you are an art collector, cultural enthusiast, traveler, or simply curious to experience contemporary art in an intimate setting, we warmly invite you to visit.
Exhibition Information
📍 Secret Gallery Hoi An
📅 Open daily until May 30th
🎟 Free Admission
Visit Where Silence Speaks to experience contemporary art as a moment of pause, presence, and personal reflection.
4. The Human Connections Behind the Art
Although artistic creation is often imagined as an individual practice, Mathilde’s experience in Vietnam revealed something different: meaningful work emerges through encounters, collaboration, and shared experiences.
Behind every exhibition, mural, and collection stands a network of collaborators, assistants, friends, and fellow artists whose contributions often remain invisible to the public eye.
Whether preparing exhibitions, installing artworks, organizing logistics, or working late into the night to meet project deadlines, these relationships have played a crucial role throughout her journey.
Vietnam has not only inspired her creatively, it has introduced her to a community of people whose generosity, energy, and support continue to shape her artistic practice. For Mathilde, human connection remains one of the most powerful creative forces.
Mathilde Granveau with guests and collaborators during an art exhibition in Vietnam
Follow Mathilde’s upcoming collaborations to discover the people, spaces, and stories that continue to shape her work.
Conclusion
Although Mathilde Granveau’s feature on TV5MONDE comes to an end, her creative journey in Vietnam continues to evolve.
Through contemporary abstraction, public art, and curatorial projects, her work continues to explore how places, stories, and cultural memory can be transformed into shared experiences.
More than a personal artistic path, this journey reflects an ongoing dialogue between heritage, creativity, and human connection.
As new exhibitions, murals, and collaborations emerge through Secret Gallery and beyond, the exploration continues.
Stay close to the journey: collect, collaborate, visit, or simply follow what comes next.
Explore More
Discover Mathilde’s latest artworks
Learn more about Where Silence Speaks
Watch the full TV5MONDE interview
Stay Connected: Join the Journey
The journey of a French artist in Vietnam is one of constant movement, exploration, and connection.
If Mathilde Granveau’s work resonates with you, whether as a collector, curator, a brand seeking a creative partner, or a space looking for a soul, you are invited to be part of what comes next.
Be the first to discover new exhibitions, collaborations, and exclusive print releases.
