The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts took on a contemplative atmosphere on the evening of November 6 as the exhibition Sac Son Ta - Colors from Tradition opened to the public.

Featuring 80 works by 14 artists, the exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the enduring vitality of traditional Vietnamese lacquer art in contemporary life.

Using natural lacquer resin, prepared wooden panels, gold, silver, eggshell and meticulous hand-polishing techniques, the participating artists have created a rich artistic dialogue in which traditional cultural heritage is preserved and reinterpreted through contemporary creative expression.

One of the exhibition's defining features is the diversity of personal perspectives reflected in the artworks.

Artist Tao Tuan Linh presents a series of paintings exploring the layered structure of urban life, inspired by the rapid transformation of Hanoi and the familiar neighborhoods of Ha Dong.

Through the distinctive technique of eggshell inlay, which evokes the texture of weathered walls, Linh recreates overlapping layers of living spaces and fragmented views of the sky in the modern city.

Despite addressing a contemporary subject, he remains firmly committed to traditional lacquer techniques, from preparing and refining natural lacquer and applying gold and silver leaf to carefully polishing the surface to achieve its characteristic sheen.

Another participating artist, Phung Hoa Mien, highlights the significant transformation of Vietnamese lacquer art from a traditional decorative craft associated with communal houses and pagodas into a fully developed fine art medium.

The artist describes the challenges faced by lacquer craftsmen, including allergic skin reactions caused by contact with natural lacquer resin, commonly known as son an, and the process's heavy dependence on atmospheric humidity.

It is precisely the painstaking application of multiple layers of pigment and manual polishing with charcoal powder that gives Vietnamese lacquer paintings their extraordinary visual depth, warm and subdued tones, and distinctive color-blending effects.

These characteristics distinguish traditional Vietnamese lacquer art from industrial lacquer finishes and lacquer traditions elsewhere in the region.

Although artists are increasingly concerned about shortages of high-quality natural lacquer resin, younger generations continue to experiment with new techniques, including raised relief and textured, wrinkled surfaces, to expand the medium's expressive possibilities.

For artist Pham Thi Tuyet, the repetitive process of polishing lacquer resembles a form of meditation and emotional healing, helping cultivate resilience and compassion.

This inner transformation is reflected in her work Thu Da Luu Lien, which begins with the melancholy of late autumn and the image of a withering lotus pond.

The emotional tone changes, however, with the appearance of two lively dragonflies, conveying a message about the enduring nature of love and the human spirit.

Tuyet's habit of preserving sketches, documenting her creative process and conducting field trips to traditional villages has provided her with a wealth of artistic inspiration, allowing her to bring greater emotional depth to each painting.

Through Sac Son Ta - Colors from Tradition, the participating artists hope to create a meaningful encounter between artists and audiences, connecting cultural values cultivated over generations with fresh perspectives from contemporary art.

The exhibition illustrates how Vietnamese lacquer art continues to serve as both a repository of cultural memory and a dynamic medium for expressing the experiences, emotions and transformations of modern society.

Tinh Le