At the 2024 Ngo Exhibition, held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, Nguyen Pastel (real name: Anh Nguyen) showcases his collection of pastel chalk paintings. This is his third consecutive year presenting this art form to the public, and it has been warmly received by art enthusiasts.

Upon entering the exhibition space, viewers are immediately drawn into a world of gentle sophistication. The artist’s delicate brushstrokes, inspired by fleeting moments in nature, create a sense of peace and wonder. Nguyen Pastel’s award-winning work has a special quality of healing, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the artwork and feel deeply relaxed.

In this year’s exhibition, Nguyen Pastel remains faithful to his style, which seeks to preserve the eternal beauty of all things as they give their final offering of life to the world.

His works, such as White Summer and Late Summer Afternoon, tenderly portray the soft, fading elegance of lotus flowers basking in the last rays of sunlight before moving on to another realm.

Karen Jeong, a visitor from South Korea who spent a long time quietly admiring the pastel chalk paintings, shared her thoughts: "I've seen many exhibitions, but standing before Nguyen Pastel’s work, I was amazed. I never imagined that chalk could create such realistic, sharp, and refined images. I haven’t seen anything like this in any other exhibition - it’s truly unique.”

As one of the few professional chalk artists in Vietnam, Nguyen Pastel has solidified his unique style over the past three years and is more confident in the path he has chosen.

His paintings remain gentle and tranquil, yet they have matured over time, achieving a level of realism and sophistication that captures both the depth of space and the stillness of time, providing comfort and solace to the viewer.

Pieces like Evening Silhouette and A Thousand Years of Remembrance showcase Nguyen Pastel’s mastery of light, turning simple chalk into a life-giving force that brings a fresh perspective to the world—one full of love and respect for all things.

"I feel so fortunate that people can recognize my work among the many other artists in the exhibition," Nguyen Pastel shared.

Nguyen Pastel (Anh Nguyen) was born in 1987 in Moc Chau and graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. He has spent 15 years pursuing his passion for art.

In 2022, Nguyen Pastel first began his journey into chalk painting, debuting with a third-place prize at the National Young Artists Festival with his piece Nameless.

In 2023, he introduced the art community to eight poetic chalk paintings during the Ngo 2023 exhibition, held alongside three other young artists.

Pastel chalk paintings are still relatively unknown to the Vietnamese public. Specialized pastel chalks and paper are rarely available in local art supply stores.

Additionally, pastel chalk art lacks formal techniques and lessons in Vietnamese art schools. As a result, artists who pursue this medium must explore and develop their skills through personal experience and experimentation.

Tinh Le