Siu Pham, a Swiss artist of Vietnamese origin, and her Swiss husband Jean-Luc Mello are showing an art exhibition, which runs in Ho Chi Minh City until next Monday.

Their exhibit, “Companion – Chair and Wind,” which is going on at Tu Do Gallery, 53 Ho Tung Mau, District 1, features 25 of the couple’s artworks using acrylic and Chinese ink on paper.

Twelve works of acrylic on canvas by Siu Pham are demonstrative of her emotions during her stay in Hoi An old town in central Quang Nam Province.

The remaining 13 works are mostly self-portraits by Mello. However, unlike many past or contemporary artists who self-portray from their own faces or characteristics, Mello generally depicts himself as a mask.

Light colors and uneven circles give enigmas and charisma to his works.

“Ho Chi Minh City is intertwined with modern-looking, luxury buildings and traditional places, which have co-existed harmoniously. Unlike many other large cities I’ve been to, cultural differences remain distinctive here. That’s why Vietnam’s traditional materials are always my favorite,” Mello shared.

The 71-year-old artist has held many exhibitions in Paris, Geneve, Lausanne and Neuchatel.

Born in 1946 in Hanoi, Siu Pham studied fine arts, literature and cinematography from 1963 to 1992 in Vietnam and Geneva.

She left for Switzerland in 1983 and has since put on many art exhibits in Switzerland, the U.S., France, and her home country Vietnam.

Pham formed a drama troupe of her own in which she also served as a drama director.

Her artistic passion has always been cherished by Mello.

In 2009, while making costumes for locally prize-winning movie “Ao Lua Ha Dong” (The White Dress Silk) in Vietnam, she had the opportunity to work with the country’s leading cameramen for her significant film project later.

Almost two years later, her film “Here... or There?” which features her husband Mello in his lead role came into being.

The film is an autobiography by an elderly nostalgic Western man, who relishes the rich culture of a coastal village in central Vietnam.

Pham and Mello’s latest film, “Homostratus,” which was completed late last year, was highly acclaimed at the 2013 Piec Smaków Festival in Warsaw, Poland.

The film, likened to a contemplative poem about poor, lonesome people amidst the hustle and bustle of HCMC, won the Best Unique Vision award at the 2014 Queens World Film Festival.

The couple has also made several acclaimed documentaries in Switzerland.

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