Artist Van Duong Thanh and his endless journey with painting

Present, Painter Van Duong Thanh stood at the peak of his career and was one of the few artists who could live well by the career. Possessing a beauty that time has forgotten, The sweet voice is the original Hanoi, The person known as the "muse" in the painting of the artist Bui Xuan Phai also has many impressive stories about his journey and work with karma..

Artist Van Duong Thanh. Image: NVCC

A persistent love for Hanoi

I visited artist Van Duong Thanh when she had just finished the picture "Quy Rab" to welcome the new year 2023. The white lotus villa in the west lake (Hanoi) is her own painting space. There, Large -sized paintings hang the walls, Small paintings dotted. On the drawing price, The works are completed. Every year, she shows a few times, Many are held right at this address. So, The white lotus villa became a familiar destination for many art lovers.

Painting “Quy Mao” by artist Van Duong Thanh. Image: Pham Hang

Guests have visited here, It will be impressed with a piece of painting to make a unique impression of artist Van Duong Thanh, It is a picture of Hanoi. With artist Van Duong Thanh, Hanoi always cherishes memories, Nostalgia and an infinite love with the land of our land in the first years of life. That love puts all the strokes for viewers, When looking at the works about Hanoi, Van Duong Thanh saw a Hanoi in a long time, Just ancient and modern, Just quiet but equally exciting, Just bring the nostalgia of memories, Again the reality of contemporary life.

Painting space at the white lotus villa by artist Van Duong Thanh. Image: Pham Hang

Painter Van Duong Thanh told, When I was young, Living in Quan Thanh street, She often comes to Ngu Xa ward by the swamp of Ho Truc Bach, Where there is sophisticated bronze casting art of Hanoi. Those shapes were imprinted in her memory and seemed to be unconsciously hidden in the layout, pen, The rhythm of Van Duong Thanh painting.

Hanoi in the memory of Van Duong Thanh also filled his childhood memories with his father, though poor but still encouraged his daughter to learn to draw. That's why later, Whenever she remembered her father, she remembered Hanoi with small street corners, pub, noodle shop, With sidewalk, The house deposits architectural colors, The very dark time color was led by his father from a young age. Or the pink color of the spring of Asian country was ingrained, Root into her soul ...

Oil painting – “Flowers by Hoan Kiem Lake” Painter Van Duong Thanh was drawn on the day 12/01/2019.

Or 12 The school year at L’Ecole de Beaux Indochina Art School and Hanoi Fine Arts University, She graduated from Fine Arts 1980 and achieved success from a very young age, There is a work that won the Vietnam Fine Arts Association in the years 1972, 1974, 1975. Close 30 Last year she was a "cultural ambassador" between Vietnam – Swedish, Efforts to introduce Vietnamese culture through painting teaching, cuisine and with their own works. But, Just like so many people "no matter how four heavenly go, The heart is still towards Hanoi ”.

"Muse" in Bui Xuan Phai painting

In the stories about the profession, Painter Van Duong Thanh often refers to the artist Bui Xuan Phai. According to the female artist, Painter Bui Xuan Phai painted her near 300 sketches and interval 20 Large oil painting. Most of those paintings are still carefully preserved by artist Van Duong Thanh. It is a priceless gift that famous artist Bui Xuan Phai gave his "muse", Since meeting Van Duong Thanh Nam Ba 17 Age to year 1988, Before the death died.

Painter Bui Xuan Phai and artist Van Duong Thanh. Image: NVCC

Painter Van Duong Thanh said that, She admires talented painters like Bui Xuan Phai, Van Cao, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Nguyen Sang ... Starting from watching the illustrations in the literary newspaper. Then, The young girl often saved 5 Breakfast coin to buy newspapers, After reading, cut the illustrations of the teachers to stick into a notebook as a souvenir.

Afterward, five 1967, When 17 year old, In one accident, Painter Van Duong Thanh was admired by his person – Painting Bui Xuan Phai. Since, Although I have not been studied yet, But she always considered herself a student of painter Bui Xuan Phai. After that, Each time you sell paintings, Painter Van Duong Thanh often uses a portion of money to buy gifts to give "uncle" ...

Painting painting Bui Xuan Phai by artist Van Duong Thanh

Year 2000, There is an exhibition of the artist Bui Xuan Phai in Sweden. The exhibition created a big resonance when attracting thousands of people in Northern Europe while before that in Northern Europe, Vietnamese painting is not widely known. The creator of that exhibition must mention artist Van Duong Thanh – The person invited to the Organizing Committee evaluated and selected Bui Xuan Phai paintings displayed at the exhibition.

Always want your teacher to be known more in the world as well as affirm the value of Vietnamese painting, Painter Van Duong Thanh expressed: “When Uncle Phai died, Every year I think there will be an event to commemorate, To remind everyone of remembering Bui Xuan Phai, Remember the talented artist of the country. As a habit, Every year I draw the uncle, Each year at least 5 arrive 10 portrait, Drawing artist Bui Xuan Phai up to now hundreds of paintings ".

When drawing the portrait of Bui Xuan Phai, Painter Van Duong Thanh said "nothing difficult at all". By with female artist: “When drawing a person has studied for a long time, How many years of seeing his face, His eyes, His person, Understand his temperament, At that time, then I just showed the same as writing books if there were full documents and experiences will be able to write forever, Write forever but not exhausted ”.

Bui Xuan Phai Draw Van Duong Thanh, Now Van Duong Thanh Draw Bui Xuan Phai – It is a rare interaction in art.

Artist “Cultural diplomacy” through painting

Leaving Vietnam to practice Swedish language graduate school from the years 1990, Painter Van Duong Thanh settled in Sweden, At this time, she was a famous painter in the country and the region, However, the Western sky is still not known. After years of persistent language learning, Incidentally, the principal Ann-Katerin was the one who discovered the talent of the painting of "the muse in Bui Xuan Phai", The principal asked artist Van Duong Thanh to stand in class to teach Eastern art knowledge and oil painting techniques.

Or 10 Five from the settlement, With the time of closed schedule, both teaching and writing, Painter Van Duong Thanh saved to buy a villa in Stockhom Sweden, It is the joy of the female artist when looking back on her journey and working hard.

Painter Van Duong Thanh Young. Image: NVCC

In People's Diplomatic activities related to the culture and artistic culture, The officials all put their faith, Chartering and calling artist Van Duong Thanh "Cultural Ambassador", Including the Ambassadors Extreme Governor -Examination. In most programs, Exchange events on international cultural level, Painter Van Duong Thanh has been awarded the trust by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government to draw his works for a series of politicians in five continents..

For each politician, The female artist worked hard on the background, accumulation, educate, Hobbies and even universities that the guests attend. From the heart to the bottom of the heart, along with the exploration of each person's interests, Painter Van Duong Thanh has launched works for President Obama (year 2016), President Bil Clinton, The wife of President Trump (year 2019), North Korean President Kim Jong Un or Swedish Princess Victoria Desiree ... and are sent by these heads to his home to thank, at the same time record, Cherish the work that the female artist has given.

The master sculptor Brancusi through the drawing of artist Van Duong Thanh

Seemingly, Creator has bestowed on artist Van Duong Thanh many great gifts, It is the spirit of goodness and outstanding painting talent. Perhaps because of that, the Creator took away her shoulder. "The muse" in Bui Xuan Phai's paintings still calmly walked back between Vietnam and Sweden alone. Her current life is associated with paintings, teach, share, Inspire many generations of students pursuing art, Is a reputable bridge, spreading the cultural messages imbued with Vietnamese identity to the world.

Sau các cuộc viễn du trong cuộc đời cũng như trong hội hoạ, nữ họa sĩ đã tìm thấy “sự thanh thản, biết ơn đời, ơn người và an nhiên tự tại”.

(Nguồn: Pham Hang – Thời Báo Văn Học Nghệ Thuật)