Late artist Nguyen Tu Nghiem's works on display in rare exhibition

The lacquer painting 'Saint Gióng' by artist Nguyen Tu Nghiem

Twenty-six paintings by the late artist Nguyen Tu Nghiem are on display at the Ngan Pho Gallery in Hanoi in an exhibition entitled Tram nam Nguyen Tu Nghiem (Nguyen Tu Nghiem - A Hundred Years).

This rare opportunity for art lovers to see the artist's works is being held to honour his career, which spanned over 70 years in the 20th and 21st centuries.

"We want the late artist's creative and human values to be longevity," said the gallery owner Le Trung Thanh. "The name of the exhibition is meaningful. It looks like we always wish each other 'happy forever' and we respect sustainable values as well."

Nghiem (1922-2016) is considered to be one of the four most influential painters in 20th-century Vietnam, alongside Bui Xuan Phai, Nguyen Sang, and Duong Bich Lien. He was renowned for his experimentation with new materials in lacquer painting and his success with oil paintings, pastels, and watercolours.

In the 1955-1970 period, Nghiem drew several lacquer paintings with simple yet striking colours, depicting everyday life in towns and the countryside. He also creatively included motifs of ancient dances and the image of Saint Giong in his works.

A painting by Nguyen Tu Nghiem from 2003

Many artists and local art lovers attended the exhibition's opening ceremony.

"The paintings with simple lines attract me," said the exhibition viewer Tran Bao Tram. "The colours and rustic lines remind me of childhood memories.

"I think young artists should come to see these works, and surely they will get more painting knowledge which is useful to develop their career."

The artist's works have been offered at auction multiple times. The record price for the artist at auction is US$88,000 for Souvenir du passé (Souvenir of The Past), sold at Christie's Hong Kong in 2022.

The exhibition Tram Nam Nguyen Tu Nghiem ran until February 26.