"Bridge Over Waters" captures an enduring symbol of Vietnamese identity: Hanoi’s Hoàn Kiếm Lake. The painting centers on the vivid, instantly recognisable "Cầu Thê Húc", (Morning Sunlight Bridge), which arcs gracefully in brilliant scarlet over the tranquil, reflective waters. This vibrant structure acts as a ceremonial entrance, leading the eye toward "Đền Ngọc Sơn" (Temple of the Jade Mountain), which rests on a small island, creating a visual pilgrimage to the sacred.
Michael's work is more than just a landscape; it’s an evocative portrait of a historical site steeped in profound national legend. Hoàn Kiếm Lake, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword," is intrinsically linked to the 15th-century Emperor Lê Lợi. Legend holds that after the Emperor used a magical sword gifted by the gods to drive out foreign invaders, a Golden Turtle God surfaced while he was boating to reclaim the divine weapon, returning it to its source.
This myth forever cemented the lake’s status as a powerful emblem of national unity, peace, and divine favour. By focusing on the serene beauty of the reflective waters and the bold, striking architecture of the bridge and temple, Michael invites the viewer into a moment of quiet contemplation, blending the tangible beauty of the location with the enduring, symbolic weight of its storied past. The painting captures a timeless, iconic moment where history, nature, and spirituality converge. For Michael, the red bridge echoes what Jesus once proclaimed “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
