On December 17, the exhibition “Nguyen Thi Que – Lacquer” will open at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts in Hanoi. This marks the first-ever solo showcase by the 70-year-old artist, offering the public a rare and comprehensive look into her life’s work.

Rarely seen in the media and seldom participating in group exhibitions, Nguyen Thi Que is well regarded among Hanoi’s fine arts community as a discreet yet meticulous artist, known for her strong technical foundation and refined aesthetic sensibility.

Her works have been featured in scholarly publications on female Vietnamese artists, as well as in prestigious national and international lacquer exhibitions.

A graduate of the Vietnam College of Fine Arts in 1977, Que belongs to a generation that bridged Indochinese lacquer traditions with the socialist realism movement.

For over half a century, she has quietly and persistently practiced, taught, and refined her craft across various artistic institutions.

This exhibition features nearly 30 lacquer paintings created between 2000 and the present. The modest number reflects the artist’s exacting standards as well as the labor-intensive nature of traditional lacquer, where technique and aesthetics are pushed to their highest form.

Nguyen Thi Que has remained loyal to two core themes: still lifes and portraits of women and children.

Rather than chasing trends or contemporary discourses, her work radiates a sense of quiet beauty and timelessness - imbued with emotional depth and serenity.

Artist Ly Truc Son notes that the intimate connection between Nguyen Thi Que and her subjects gives her paintings a sense of gentle care, quiet restraint, and profound artistic value.

Running from December 17 to 30, 2025, “Nguyen Thi Que – Lacquer” invites the public to reflect on the resilient, humble, and powerful artistic journey of a woman who has dedicated her life to Vietnamese lacquer painting.

Selected works on display at the exhibition: