Virtual exhibition shines light on Vietnamese lacquer art

The artworks are on display at trienlamtranhsonmai.trienlamao.net with information in both English and Vietnamese.

Visitors to the virtual gallery can learn about the history of Vietnamese lacquer painting and enjoy works that highlight the beauty of the country and its people. They can stop in front of each work, get closer and back away to see it from different angles and listen to explanations from the information box next to it.

Among the works is the painting Binh Phong (Folding Screen), one of Vietnam’s eight protected national art treasures by famous artist Nguyen Gia Tri.

‘Binh Phong’ (Folding Screen), a lacquer painting by Nguyen Gia Tri. Photo courtesy of exhibition organizers

This work, created in 1944, has two paintings on either side of eight attached wooden pieces that form the screen. On one side is ‘Thieu Nu Trong Vuon’ (Ladies In The Garden), which depicts the beauty of young women in ao dai, Vietnam’s traditional dress.

On the back the artist has created Doc Mung (Colocasia gigantea), a tropical garden with light details on a dark background.

Tri (1908-1993) was one of the pioneers of a new trend in lacquer painting in Vietnam, combining traditional styles with Western painting materials and methods.

Vietnamese viewers can easily relate to the images of banana trees, delicately carved and then, inlaid with gold.

Opened Thursday, the virtual exhibition is organized by the Foreign Ministry’s Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Affairs and the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum.

A representative of the organizing committee said they hope that the exhibition will open the eyes of the world to very unique art developed in Vietnam.