The Story Behind the Art: Reimagining a Vietnamese Literary Classic in Coastal Vũng Tàu
When art bridges literature, geography, and traditional craftsmanship, a print becomes more than just an image—it becomes a narrative frozen in ink. My hand-printed linocut artwork, Diary of a Cricket, reimagines one of Vietnam’s most celebrated literary masterpieces through the lens of modern coastal life in Vũng Tàu.
Diary of a Cricket, linocut, 26 cm x 63.5 cm, 2026
Here is the complete story behind the artwork: from its roots in classic Vietnamese children's literature to the meticulous, physical labor of hand-carving and burnishing the relief print.
1. The Cultural Significance of Tô Hoài’s Classic Novel
At the heart of this artwork is "Dế Mèn Phiêu Lưu Ký" (Adventures of a Cricket), written by author Tô Hoài in 1941 and brought to generations of readers through Kim Dong Publishing House. Considered a cornerstone of modern Vietnamese children’s literature, the novel follows Dế Mèn, a proud, adventurous cricket who journeys across grasslands, encounters diverse insect communities, and learns vital life lessons about humility, empathy, brotherhood, and peace.
For generations of Vietnamese readers, Dế Mèn is an iconic symbol of youth, wanderlust, and self-discovery. His journey mirrors the human experience of stepping out into the wider world, facing hardship, and realizing the interconnectedness of all living things. Translating this beloved tale into visual art required preserving its spirit while offering a fresh, contemporary interpretation. Learn more about this classic Vietnamese children’s novel.
My own copy of the story translated into English
2. The Historical & Coastal Context of Vũng Tàu
To understand why placing Dế Mèn on the Vũng Tàu waterfront is meaningful, it helps to look at the rich history of this coastal peninsula. Long before becoming a bustling modern seaside destination, Vũng Tàu served as an essential maritime landmark in southern Vietnam. As detailed in the Vietnam National Tourism Guide the region’s prominent headlands and strategic coastline have long connected southern Vietnam to international trade routes.
Early Maritime History & 'Cap Saint-Jacques': Historically named Tam Thắng ("Three Villages"), the peninsula was a strategic anchorage for trading vessels navigating the South China Sea toward the Mekong Delta. Under French colonial rule, it was renamed Cap Saint-Jacques and developed into a prominent resort town and military stronghold, complete with coastal forts, lighthouses, and colonial villa architecture.
A Hub of Trade and Transition: Across the 19th and 20th centuries, Vũng Tàu evolved from a quiet fishing enclave into a dynamic crossroads of maritime commerce, offshore oil production, and coastal tourism. Its prominent headlands—Nghinh Phong Cape, Small Mountain, and Big Mountain—have watched centuries of ships pass through the waters.
Inspiration for the Print: By setting Tô Hoài's iconic characters against this backdrop, the print juxtaposes a classic 1940s literary journey with a location shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and physical change. The coastal seawalls, modern promenades, and harbor lights carry the weight of this history, providing a rich, layered setting for Dế Mèn's modern wanderings.
3. Placed in Modern Vũng Tàu: Merging Myth and Modernity
A local woman gazes out at sea in modern day Vung Tau
While Tô Hoài’s original story takes place in the wild grasses and rural streams of Vietnam, Diary of a Cricket transports Dế Mèn and his companion into the modern urban landscape of coastal Vũng Tàu, the seaside city in southern Vietnam where I lived and worked while creating this piece.
In this artwork, the anthropomorphic insects gather on the Vũng Tàu seafront as night falls:
The graffiti featured in the artwork with a large container ship behind
The Scene: The characters stand along the coastal promenade overlooking the ocean. In the background, the soft glow of streetlights illuminates the paved boardwalk, while distant ships trace the horizon.
Modern Details: Instead of rural fields, the insects interact with modern coastal elements—scooters, street lamps, and urban sea walls adorned with modern graffiti (such as "LOVE YOU" etched into the stone).
The Celestial Moon: Overhead, a massive, stylized moon casts dramatic light across the water, swirling with carved textures that echo traditional woodblock motifs and starry skies.
Detail of the linocut with a figure on a scooter in the foreground
By placing these legendary insect characters along the Vũng Tàu coastline, the print creates a dialogue between past and present—inviting viewers to imagine timeless literary figures walking among us in contemporary Vietnam.
4. The Printmaking Process: Fully Handmade Fine Art
True to my commitment to traditional relief printmaking, every step was executed by hand without any press or digital shortcuts.
Direct Drawing on Hessian-Backed Linoleum
Carving over the pencil drawing
The creative process began by sketching the complex narrative illustration directly onto a slab of traditional hessian-backed linoleum. Working directly on the block allows the natural texture of the material to guide the composition, ensuring that line weights and textural rhythms respond dynamically to the linoleum's surface.
Hand-Carving Precision
Using fine hand-carving gouges, I cut away the negative spaces line by line. Every detail—from the delicate venation on the cricket's wings and antenna to the swirling ripples of light surrounding the streetlamps and moon—was carved by hand. Precision carving is essential in single-color relief prints, as contrast and mark-making carry the full weight of light, shadow, and depth.
Carved section of the linocut with characters from the story
Manual Burnishing with a Wooden Baren
Once carved, oil-based ink was rolled across the block. Rather than using an etching press, each sheet of archival paper was printed using a wooden baren—a traditional hand tool used to rub the back of the paper. Hand-burnishing allows for precise control over ink transfer, ensuring deep, rich blacks while preserving delicate highlight cuts. The result is a tactile, limited-edition relief print where no two impressions are identical. Read my full guide on linocut printmaking tools and materials.
Detail of the inked linocut showing the cricket against a large moon
5. Watch the Process: "Diary of a Cricket" Video
To truly appreciate the labor and technique behind a relief print, seeing the physical movement of the tools is invaluable. I recorded the entire journey—from pencil lines on uncarved lino to the final pull off the block.
Watching the process video highlights the tactile nature of linocut art. It shows how subtle variations in hand pressure with the wooden baren bring the ink to life, giving viewers a deeper connection to the craft behind the finished artwork. If you enjoy the video please subscribe to my channel to show your support - it’s always much appreciated!
Watch the Behind-the-Scenes Process on YouTube
In this Youtube video artist Mark James Murphy takes you through the steps he took to make his linocut Diary of a Cricket
Technical Details & Artwork Specifications
Title: Diary of a Cricket
Medium: Hand-carved relief print / Original Linocut
Size: 26 cm x 63.5 cm (10.2 in x 25 in)
Block Material: Hessian-backed traditional linoleum
Printing Method: 100% Hand-printed using a wooden baren (no press)
Inspiration: Dế Mèn Phiêu Lưu Ký by Tô Hoài & the coastal landscape of Vũng Tàu, Vietnam
Artist: Mark James Murphy
Buy the original Diary of a Cricket linocut print here.
Bringing Vietnamese Culture to Contemporary Fine Art Printmaking
Diary of a Cricket is a tribute to the richness of Vietnamese literary heritage and the distinct coastal energy of Vũng Tàu. By combining hand-carved precision with storytelling, this print celebrates both the deliberate craft of relief printmaking and the enduring magic of Tô Hoài’s classic tale.
Whether you are a collector of original printmaking, an admirer of Vietnamese literature, or someone who loves coastal art, this piece offers a unique fusion of traditional technique and modern narrative. You can check out more of my limited edition linocuts inspired by Vietnam here.
A colourful sunset view from a cafe in Vung Tau
