Among Nguyen Gia Tri's close students in Ho Chi Minh City, there are currently artist Hoang Vuong (born 1948) and artist Nguyen Xuan Viet (born 1949). For health reasons, Hoang Vuong chose to live quietly in a district far from the center and stopped communicating with colleagues. During a visit to the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association for another job, the writer happened to have the new address of artist Hoang Vuong and had this opportunity to connect.
Hoang Vuong can't remember exactly from which dates he studied lacquer painting with famous artist Nguyen Gia Tri, but he worked with him for nearly 20 years. In the last few years, sometimes Hoang Vuong was the only one working at the workshop, while Mr. Tri was in a wheelchair giving instructions. After the teacher's death (1993), Hoang Vuong also came to help Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim - teacher Nguyen Gia Tri's wife - for a while longer, to complete a few paintings that were about to be completed, were ordered but had not yet been delivered. The work only stopped when Ms. Kim became weak and the paintings were all delivered.
Art teacher learns lacquer painting
Hoang Vuong was born in Binh Duong province, his hometown is Thai Binh. His father came here to settle down, have a family, and give birth to his siblings. Hoang Vuong studied lacquer fine arts in Binh Duong from a young age. From 1965 to 1975, apprenticed and collaborated at Master Nguyen Gia Tri's lacquer workshop in Saigon. From 1970 to 1972, worked as a lacquer researcher at the Department of Technology. From 1972 to 1975, he taught drawing at Phan Dinh Phung Professional School and Nguyen Truong To Technical School. He received an honorary award for painting and sculpture from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
Artist Hoang Vuong
Entering his 30s, having participated in many group exhibitions at home and abroad, sold paintings here and there, Hoang Vuong suddenly thought that he needed to learn more about lacquer, so he wanted to find his old teacher to receive instruction. Through the introduction of a few seniors, he came to Dong Son Lacquer Workshop at 6 Ton Duc Thang (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) to offer help and to learn more. This workshop was initiated by Dominican priest Tran Thai Hiep, with the participation of a number of artists, including Nguyen Gia Tri, operated from 1978 to 1989.
With his resourcefulness and existing artistic experience, Hoang Vuong learned and grasped the problem quite quickly, so he gradually gained Mr. Tri's trust and was entrusted with many difficult or important stages in lacquer painting.
Collector Duong Duc Dung and his wife (left and right cover) with artist Hoang Vuong (seated) and his son
“Being youthful is having eager to win, always wanting to prove that I was good, so I worked very quickly, exceeding the set limit. Once making a large painting, I thought Mr. Tri would be very satisfied, but when he re-evaluated, he told me to drop it and made another one. At that time, I was so sad, even thought about quitting, but then I thought about it, I ate the teacher's food, learned the job, helped the work, and was also paid by the teacher, so why would I be pity? Then I focused on making it more beautiful and more successful" – said artist Hoang Vuong.
In Nguyen Gia Tri's workshop, there are often up to 14-15 assistants, and there are always 2-3 young artists. It is clear that they go to work to earn more income, but working to listen to Mr. Tri's instructions on lacquer techniques, concepts and aesthetics is the main purpose.
Hoang Vuong added: "In 1968, I entered the painting preparatory course at Gia Dinh National College of Fine Arts, studied ink wash painting with famous artist Dai Wan Jun (戴頑君, 1913 - 2003). These two small foundations were inspired and reinforced by Mr. Tri, so I have improved and became more grounded. Mr. Tri has devoted his life to lacquer painting but is also quite knowledgeable in various other fields, especially in applying Eastern philosophy to Western painting techniques".
The painting "Duck calling in the afternoon" (lacquer, 80x120cm) is being completed by Hoang Vuong
In a sharing with his students on May 4, 1979, Nguyen Gia Tri said: "With abstraction, Chinese characters are an abstract thing. Eastern Asians go straight to abstraction, and are the pioneers." On April 29, 1980, Nguyen Gia Tri reiterated: "When you start lacquer painting, you are already painting abstractly. Because it is not as real as in real life. Lacquer artists look at the inner mind, not at the the outer shell of things".
The opportunity to own the teacher's painting
"The teacher was very careful. Only when he saw a painting that met the quality did he sign it undercover so that the student could further perfect the surface. If the painting didn’t meet the quality, it would be destroyed and not be delivered to the customer. When the teacher was about to pass away, he signed about 8-9 figurative paintings that was almost completed, just waiting to be watered and polished, along with some abstract paintings. He loved abstract painting, because he says abstraction is closest to his heart." - Hoang Vuong shared.
Abstract painting with red background, currently in the collection of Duong Duc Dung
In the late 1980s, Hoang Vuong together with a number of other close students and assistants were called by Master Tri to work at his home studio. When Master Tri was sick, he rarely accepted new commission, only tried to complete unfinished paintings, so only Hoang Vuong and one or two assistants came to work.
Hoang Vuong said: "When the teacher passed away, the family situation deteriorated further, the last few paintings could not be delivered to customers, so Mrs. Kim also had some difficulty paying the workers. At this time, customers mainly commisioned landscape - young lady paintings instead of abstract ones. Once I boldly told her to let me take some abstract paintings in addition to the salary. Mrs. Kim said that paintings with images were valuable but not the abstract ones, it was worth much to clear the debt, then thanks for her love for student, she let me keep the paintings."
"Having kept these paintings for nearly 30 years, sometimes people ask to buy them but I don't sell because I want to preserve some memories with my teacher. Until recently, because of old age and weak health, my wife passed away, living alone in the suburbs of the city and even though my children children visit often, I finally feel that I could not keep everything" - he added - "Once by chance, a few young people came to my house to visit me. In the group, there was Duc Dung and his wife, who worked in business, but were very passionate about the culture, arts, and history of the country. After a few conversations, seeing that Duc Dung was enthusiastic and pure, I gave up these paintings for Dung to keep".
Abstract painting with yellow background, currently in the collection of Duong Duc Dung
Contacting collector Duong Duc Dung, asking what he thinks when he owns some Nguyen Gia Tri paintings coincidentally? Duong Duc Dung replied: "Even in my wildest dreams, I don't think I could own a painting by Nguyen Gia Tri, because we don't do business in the field of fine arts, it's definitely not easy to find one. This is truly a blessing, a good fate. I will hang the painting in a grand place at our home, so that those who are interested can come to see and enjoy tea. Our family hasn’t thought about put this painting on sale”.
Dream of first solo exhibition
Hoang Vuong regrets that he could not keep many works for his first solo exhibition. If his health improve, he will complete a few more lacquer paintings, make a small exhibition, as a farewell to his family and friends. "I'm close to teacher Tri, and I've learned many good techniques and concepts, but the paintings I draw are completely different from him, which is strange to think" - Hoang Vuong confided.
Source: Sports Culture
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 and artist Nguyen Xuan Viet (born 1949). For health reasons, Hoang Vuong chose to live quietly in a district far from the center and stopped communicating with colleagues. During a visit to the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association for another job, the writer happened to have the new address of artist Hoang Vuong and had this opportunity to connect.&){kind=link}
ĐÁNH GIÁ SẢN PHẨM