The art of Nguyen Huyen (1915 – 1994), a talented lacquer artist, is featured at an exhibition that runs in Hanoi from tomorrow through April 2.

The exhibition is divided into four parts including lotus, landscape, portraits and golden fishes, presenting the main subjects and creative styles pursued by Huyen during his career.

On display are 50 lacquer and oil on canvas paintings, including some of his most famous, such as “Landscape of Thac Bo” and “Mau To” (Mother and Son).

Huyen is known as the painter of the 100 dong banknote issued in 1946. People often called it “blue buffalo note” because it depicted farmers working in a field alongside an eye-catching blue buffalo. The note represented Vietnamese agriculture and production.

Huyen was the co-founder of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association.

“Contrasting with the calm personality of Nguyen Huyen, the tone of his artworks is strong and deep,” said art expert Tran Quoc Hung, curator of the exhibition. “Beyond the milestones he set on the artistic journey of VietNam as a whole, we are dazzled by his hard work, through which he produced a large volume of works with high artistic value – the fruits of the silent performance by a modest artist.”

“He most assuredly conducted elaborate and exhaustive research through any topic or material of every painting,” Hung said.

The exhibition of selected paintings will be held at Chon’s Auction House, 17 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Hanoi. An auction of these paintings will take place on April 29 at the same venue.  

This is also an opportunity for collectors, investors and the public to get a comprehensive look at the creative life of the gifted artist.

Nguyen Van Minh, a visitor to the exhibition, said he admired the talent of artist Huyen.

“During his career, the lotus was the only flower that Huyon loved to paint. Among many paintings of lotus, not one looks like any other.”

Earlier, the painting “Dang Ngoc” (Natural Beauty) by Huyen was auctioned for US$45,000 at the Chon’s Auction House. 

The 100 dong banknote with a picture of farmers and a blue buffalo painted by Nguyen Huyen. — Photo courtesy of Chon’s Auction House The painting Chua Mot Cot by Nguyen Huyen is among the 50 paintings on display. — Photo courtesy of Chon’s Auction House The painting "Mau To" by Nguyen Huyen is one among the 50 paintings on display. — Photo courtesy of Chon’s Auction House

VNS