Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum on August 8 launched a book about works by Vietnamese famous painter Tran Van Can to mark his 30th death anniversary (1994-2024).
The 213-page book provides readers with writings, images and information about Can’s paintings that are part of the museum’s collection.
It is expected that the book will help readers learn more about Can – one of the greatest painters of modern Vietnamese fine arts. The book is not only a valuable reference for researchers and art students, but also a meaningful spiritual gift for those who love Vietnamese painting.
Born in the northern province of Bac Ninh in 1910, Can studied arts at the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Indochine from 1931-1937, where he was heavily influenced by college founder Joseph Inguimberty.
Can achieved "most excellent student", became a lecturer at the college and then headmaster from 1954-1964. His greatest contribution to Vietnamese modern painting was in lacquer.
With more than 50-year experience, he created numerous art works, which depict the diverse reality of the national battle for independence as well as the country's development process.
His highly acclaimed works include Em Thuy (Little Thuy), Goi Dau (Hair Washing), Cuu Nong Dan (Save the Farmers), Tru Giac Doi (Hunger Elimination), Cay Lua (Rice Transplanting), Nu Dan Quan Mien Bac (Northern Militiawoman).
Together with some other talented painters of his generation such as Nguyen Gia Tri, To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Phan Chanh, Nguyen Do Cung, Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Bui Xuan Phai, Can helped set up the foundation for Vietnamese modern fine arts.
On this occasion, the museum received musical composition “Little Thuy’s Minuet” by Paul Zetter who was Assistant Director of the British Council Vietnam from 1998–2002. The music composition was inspired by Can’s “Em Thuy” painting.
Speaking at the event to hand over the musical composition, Zetter said that when he came to Vietnam in 1998, he began to learn about Vietnamese fine arts and accidentally found the painting “Em Thuy” in a book. He was extremely impressed by the innocent beauty of little Thuy and composed “Little Thuy’s Minuet”.
With the support of People’s Artist Ngo Hoang Quan, Zetter's composition was arranged for a chamber music group and was first performed at the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts during the book launch.
The museum’s director Nguyen Anh Minh said that this is the first time the museum has received a musical work. It will be used in the museum’s digital platforms as a brand identity and in its concert programmes.
Since late 2022, the museum has organised regular concert series "When Music Blends with Fine Arts" which aim to create opportunities for the public to access two pinnacle art forms - symphonic music, and fine arts./.
