Young painter passionate about traditional lacquer painting

Chu Nhật Quang is pictured with one of his artworks. Photo phunuvietnam.vn

HÀ NỘI After seven years studying abroad, painter Chu Nhật Quang chose to challenge himself with traditional lacquer painting, rather than pursuing modern art forms like many of his fellow young artists.

This October, the 29-year-old will introduce himself to the art world in Hà Nội with an exhibition at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, showcasing 50 of his lacquer artworks.

Quang was born into a family with a rich artistic tradition. His grandfather, Chu Mạnh Chấn, was a talented painter who has been involved in reviving and preserving the cultural heritages of northern villages through lacquer painting. His father, Chu Lượng, was the former Director of the Thăng Long Puppet Theatre.

The family tradition has had a profound influence on Quang, particularly in his choice of subject matter.  His childhood, steeped in traditional culture, served as a springboard for him to embark on the challenging path of lacquer painting.

“Lacquer painting attracts me like a magnet, keeping me glued to the easel. Today, with the development of society, technology 4.0 and AI, which can create vibrant paintings in the style of oil and watercolour, lacquer painting remains unique. It’s a one-of-a-kind creation, and even the artist themselves cannot replicate it exactly,” he told phunuvietnam.vn.

He studied arts for eight years in the US and Australia and the time studying abroad, he said, has provided him with many experiences, which explains why his artistic style is a blend of traditional and modern cultures. 

The young painter holds a special passion for lacquer painting. Photo phunuvietnam.vn

According to Quang, lacquer is a unique material that requires meticulous craftsmanship. The process of preparing the wood alone takes about a month. The artisan applies between eight to eleven layers, meticulously sanding polishing, and waiting for the lacquer to dry, repeating the process each time.

The materials used in lacquer painting are also unique and among the most expensive. Lacquer painters face a greater challenge than those working with other materials, as each piece takes a longer time to complete.

“Why does lacquer art require so many layers? Because when the artist applies the colours, it takes about two to three months for them to blend and create a beautiful painting that truly reflects their vision. This is a fascinating and suspenseful editing process for any lacquer artist,” he explained.

Quang is currently working on a painting that he started three years ago and he’s in the final week of finishing it. The painting is 1.8 metres by 1.2 metres in dimension.

“This painting is special because it’s a large-scale piece, but I’m not using the traditional method of dividing it into smaller panels and then assembling them.

“This painting of mine is one large piece, not divided. It will pose many challenges for transportation, but it fulfills my vision of the world of art. I want to express it seamlessly and completely,” he said.

Quang said the colours in his paintings were ‘programmed’ from the moment he decided to pursue lacquer art – traditionally gold-leafed red and black. But halfway through his creative journey, the urge to create his own unique style led him to choose colours based on his own preferences. While he still adheres to tradition, he has introduced different colour blocks and levels of brightness, giving his work a contemporary feel. 

Quang incorporates regional cultural elements into his paintings.

His paintings feature a wide range of subjects. He enjoys depicting the tranquil scenes of northern Vietnamese villages, temples, rivers, puppets and mythical creatures like dragons, phoenixes, turtles and qilin.

In some of his paintings, he incorporates regional cultural elements. For example, in Mùa Nước Nổi (Flooded Season), he depicts the scene of flowers being sold at a floating market in the Mekong Delta, adding a mythical turtle as a guardian figure, bringing good fortune and bountiful harvests to the people. 

Mùa Nước Nổi (Flooded Season) by Chu Nhật Quang

Art enthusiasts in Hà Nội will have a chance to contemplate 50 of his artworks at his first exhibition, held at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel on October 10, the anniversary of the liberation of the capital city.

“In my first exhibition, I want to honour the cultural values of our nation by painting sceneries of the countryside, architecture and the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel – a place that holds historical significance in the development of Hà Nội.

“I hope to inspire young artists to take pride in Việt Nam’s rich and long-standing traditional culture,” Quang said.

He also revealed that his artworks aren’t created for sale, but he gifts them to his family and business partners, or for charitable purposes.

Quang’s artworks have received high praise from art critics.

“Born and raised in such a family, Quang’s development is like blood, essence and the core of artistic thinking. Coupled with his formal education, when you see Quang’s paintings, you immediately recognise the source of the nation’s culture, blended in a simple and natural way,” said painter Thành Chương.

“Through his paintings, you also see the artist’s personality. Even though he is young, he holds a special passion for this traditional craft.” VNS