There are many special personalities in Vu Tuan Kiet, a boy in Hanoi. He just opened his first personal exhibition on April 14-25. He was born in 2003, which means that he is 9 year old, too young to open an individual exhibition. Especially, he does not go to school like all other Vietnamese children.

“Kiet”, which was opened on April 14-25, 2012, in Hanoi, was the first personal exhibition of Vu Tuan Kiet, which displayed 46 black-and-white pictures of different topics: from animals to humans, natural phenomena to streets, from ecosystems and the urbanization of rural areas. 

Kiet now lives with a man he calls “Uncle Tung.” He does not go to school. He does nothing during the day except painting, playing with the dogs, reading tales in English and Chinese. Especially, “Uncle Tung,” who advised Kiet’s parents to let Kiet stay at home, is a man with high education level. He is an architect, who once studied economics, philosophy and architecture in Germany.

Hello Kiet!. You look a bit shiny black. Have you just returned from a trip?

Yes, I have returned from Hoi An (ancient town, a well-known tourist site in Vietnam – reporter).

What did you do in Hoi An? Did you draw paintings?

No. I spent most of the time bathing in the sea.

Why don’t you like going to school?

Because I cannot enjoy freedom when I am at school. I cannot paint. Besides, I was scolded by the Vietnamese language teacher; therefore, I did not want to study with her. My friends are also afraid of her.

What do you do everyday?

I draw paintings, learn foreign languages, cook, learn to play music instruments and play with the dogs.

How can you learn foreign languages?

I read stories in English and I practice writing Chinese. I would ask Uncle Tung when I meet difficult words.

What do you like doing most?

Painting. I spend 1-2 hours a day on the work. I draw pictures on the topics I like.

Do you like toys?

I like Lego jigsaw puzzle and cars. I do not like others very much.

Do you like reading books?

Previously, I read a little, but now I spend more time on reading.

Do you prefer staying in Xuan Mai with Uncle Tung or with your parents at home?

I like staying in Xuan Mai more, because I can enjoy more freedom here. Besides, there are many dogs here. If I am at home, my mother would force me to have a bath.

What would you do if you want to expel unpleasant things out of your head?

I would go to the toilet, which would, by some way, help throw out unpleasant things out of my brain. After that, I would bring the things here (showing his stomach) to the parts of the brain which have just been “liberalized.”

Have you thought of going to school again?

It’s now OK for me. (talking with the mother)– As I do not go to school, you can save 120 million dong a year. 

What do you spend most of money on?

On phone charges. It costs me 20,000 dong a month.

What will you do to earn your living?

I want to become a painter. Besides, I would like to raise breeds of dogs. Uncle Tung has given me an Alaskan dog. Every time when I bring it for breeding, I would get 2 million dong, and I would get half of the puppies.

Do you want to become a superman?

No. Supermen always have to wear very tight clothes, which is inconvenient to go to toilet.

Source: VNN