This is a specialized exhibition of lacquer paintings, on a quite grand scale. It has been a long time since the Vietnam Fine Arts Association has organized an exhibition dedicated to a material: lacquer. The participating artworks are invested quite meticulously by the authors, covering diverse themes: landscapes, portraits, festivals, flowers, still life, and themes of the homeland’s seas and islands, totaling 83 works from 83 authors. It has attracted a considerable number of viewers across all three floors of the Exhibition House at 16 Ngô Quyền, Hanoi, from April 29 to May 7, 2021.
The lacquer technique is expressed masterfully by artists, shimmering, deep, mysterious, sparkling, and enchanting. The lacquer technique holds many secrets: applying multiple layers of lacquer, then polishing until the desired lines and colors emerge as intended by the artist, sometimes with fortunate outcomes. In the past, artists from the Indochina College of Fine Arts smoothed the painting surfaces quite evenly; nowadays, younger artists intentionally leave a bit of texture on the painting surface, some even incorporate ceramics or metal onto the polished surface to create surprising visual effects.
Most of the artworks follow traditional lacquer techniques. The exhibition still lacks some renowned lacquer artists due to their participation in group exhibitions and solo exhibitions, thus not sending artworks to participate in this exhibition.
DOAN THUY HANH – Spring. Lacquer. 80x160cm
PHAM CHINH TRUNG – By the window. 2021. Lacquer. 75x100cm
DO THI KIM DOAN – Corner of the garden. 2020. Lacquer. 80x80cm
The 2021 lacquer painting exhibition is where artists showcase ideas, talent, and increasingly refined techniques with this material. Most of the artworks are large in size, reflecting the higher economic conditions of society. Many artists have sold their paintings and made a living from their profession, investing in quality materials such as gold, silver, lipstick, and resin to improve the durability of lacquer paintings. The exhibition includes members of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association of various ages, who have been passionate for many years about creating with lacquer, from Doan Van Nguyen, Tran Phi Truong, Nguyen Van Bang, Nguyen Truong Linh, Do Khai, Nguyen Quoc Huy, Tran Lang, Tran Quang Hai, Tran Tuan Long, Nguyen Hai Nam, Chu Cuong, to young artists such as Nguyen Hoang Van, Nguyen Van Hung, Ngo Van Dung. Contemporary young artists have inherited the traditions of their predecessors and enriched the visual language of lacquer.
Themes such as Vietnamese countryside landscapes, mountain landscapes, festivals, history, daily life scenes, portraits of young women, flowers, are often the strengths of lacquer paintings. This exhibition also includes works portraying armed forces and revolutionary war themes, such as “Embroidery of a soldier’s robe” by Le Tri Dung, etc.
Paintings like “Flow and Breed” by Hung Khuynh are connected to the legend of dragons and fairies. Nguyen Tho Tuong with “Gate of Childhood” brings us back to memories of beloved rural villages. Tran Van Duc’s “A corner of the market” is full of decorative charm, with a unique and beautiful composition.
TRINH TUAN – Late winter afternoon. 2019. Lacquer. 120x120cm
HUNG KHUYNH – Flow and Breed. 2020. Lacquer. 90x120cm
VU THANH YEN – Morning market. 2021. Lacquer. 100x100cm
Nguyen Quoc Huy has a series of landscape paintings depicting banyan trees, village gates, communal houses, and pagodas in ancient rural regions. He applies enchanting shades of green and a unique silver inlay technique, creating depth with multiple layers and a meticulously polished painting surface.
Hoang Huu Van with “Singing River” describes the Red River at sunset, with magnificent golden hues. The three-panel painting by young artist Nguyen Ngoc Hung adopts a modern approach, harmonious and gentle in color.
Artworks by female authors have left a strong impression. Mai San’s “Bathing in the stream”, Pham Thi Nghia’s “Bathing in moonlight”, both robust and round, depict the beauty of young naked girls. Cong Kim Hoa with “Rhythm”, paints in abstract style, beautiful colors, delicate color transitions, leaving the painting surface unpolished to create strong visual effects. Ngo Hai Yen with “Dreaming of the past”, in abstract style, contrasts deep red with black, solid figures of men and women, and red spots of children, embodying the happiness of family bonds. Le Thi Dau with “The way home” depicts scenes of ethnic girls returning from the market, resting among dreamy cherry blossoms and apricot flowers. Tran Thi Ngoc Anh with “Night dance” portrays a group of cats running on the roofs of ancient townhouses. These cats are gentle and adorable during the day, but reveal their wild, mysterious nature at night, with their dark green eyes and eerie cries echoing over the ancient rooftops.
HOANG HUU VAN – Singing River. Lacquer. 90x150cm
NGUYEN QUOC HUY – Sky Gate. 2021. Lacquer. 120x90cm
Ngoc Anh has adorned the green jade-colored eyes of cats, creating a wild and intriguing beauty. She often paints animals such as wild ducks, blue birds, and now cats. Vu Thanh Yen portrays portraits of two mountainous girls, their vibrant red costumes harmonizing with the basic red of traditional lacquer color palettes. Female artists often delve into lighter subjects of life: mountain landscapes, bathing, portraits of young women, or lotus flowers… Their ability to depict essence has been increasingly researched and practiced effectively by artists. Nguyen Thi Hoa has a beautiful self-portrait, with “two-strand” hair color, the red of brick backgrounds, the color of women’s flesh… she paints with great emotion. She has painted many portraits of friends, relatives, and now self-portraits. Doan Thuy Hanh with “Spring” portrays beautiful and lovely young girls when spring arrives, with a gentle and bright color palette. Do Thi Kim Doan’s painting, slender and graceful like a quatrain. Nguyen Thi Tien with “Summer lotus”, won the C Capital Fine Arts Exhibition prize in 2020. Abstract works by Tran Thanh Van also captivate viewers.
The Exhibition House at 16 Ngô Quyền has recently been upgraded with modern furniture and lighting standards. In the past, artists preferred to exhibit on the 1st and 2nd floors, with few wanting to exhibit on the 3rd floor. However, the current 3rd floor offers beautiful lighting and a quiet space to appreciate beautiful paintings, accompanied by soothing music, making it a wonderful experience. As life flows with each passing year, lacquer paintings always endure the test of time. Beauty enriches the soul, making us forget the worries and hardships of daily life.
It can be affirmed: The 2021 specialized exhibition of lacquer paintings is a successful exhibition in terms of scale and quality of artworks. As President of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association Luong Xuan Doan said: The 2021 specialized lacquer painting exhibition marks a promising start for the new term of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. Lacquer is an open space for generations of artists to inherit and contribute; the lacquer palette is unique, but the individual creations of each artist do not diminish the distinctive flavor of traditional lacquer, blending into the flow of contemporary lacquer. The lacquer technique continues to evolve, enhancing the artistic essence of lacquer. The traditional nature of lacquer is inherited and developed by young artists as the foundation for other materials to develop in contemporary Vietnamese art.
Dang Thanh Van
