
Hanoi (VNA) - Artworks in various styles by Vietnameselacquer painters will be showcased to the public at an exhibition that waslaunched at 29 Hang Bai Exhibition Hall in Hanoi on June 1.
The fifth exhibition of Son Ta Group, which is dedicated to the traditionalVietnamese lacquer painting, will feature works by 18 painters like Tran NgocAnh, Tran Dinh Binh and Chu Viet Cuong. Despite following differentstyles, all of them want to preserve traditional lacquer materials and paintingtechniques.
At the exhibition this year, they have exploited the expressiveness oftraditional lacquer while still preserving the glossiness, smoothness anddepth-effect of the materials.
Lacquer is thought to be difficult to use to evoke softness, generosity andconstant emotion like other materials due to the particular characteristics ofthe material and techniques; therefore, lacquer painters are limited in theirartistic intentions and style.
However, the exhibition has demonstrated their efforts in overcoming thisto create new modern visual impressions with the traditional Vietnameseart form.
Another interesting feature of the event is that the painters have used theprofound effect of lacquer painting to convey their inner feelings combinedwith various themes in the works portraying nature or young ladies.
Son Ta Group was established in April 2013 by painter Nguyen Viet Duc. Thefirst project of the group, which gathered 50 lacquer painters, was held withartisans from Ha Thai and Chuyen My craft villages. After that, 30 works wereselected for the exhibition in Russia in 2014 during the Vietnam– Russiacultural day. The second exhibition was held in 2015, covering more open topicsand diversified styles.
The third exhibition in 2016 of the group was highly appreciated by Presidentof the Vietnam Fine Arts Association Tran Khanh Chuong. At their fourthexhibition in October 2018, entitled Lam (DeepBlue), the painters pushed theirlimits by having their artworks coloured with shades of blue, the mostdifficult colour in traditional lacquer which is rarely used nowadays.
The event will run until June 8./.