Xuân (Spring) by painter Đỗ Khải. — Photo courtesy of the artist

HÀ NỘI — An exhibition featuring over 30 lacquer paintings by 11 artists is open in downtown Hà Nội.

Sơn Ta + (Lacquer Resin +) is co-hosted by Dream Partner and S Plus to give audiences a glimpse of traditional Vietnamese lacquer art.

Sơn Ta has been particularly practised by a group of eight artists, recognised as well-experienced in the genre: Lý Trực Sơn, Đỗ Đức Khải, Nguyễn Trường Linh, Trần Đình Bình, Đặng Hiền, Trần Tiến Dũng, and Vũ Thu Hiền.

With many years in the art, painter Lý Trực Sơn noted the genre had played an important role in contemporary painting.

"This event can be considered a diversified result brought by each artist,” he said. “Each painter with their own style expresses the respect for lacquer through characteristics that only the art of lacquer can describe."

Sơn Lâm Vĩnh Cửu (Eternal Power of the Forest's King) by painter Trần Đình Bình. — Photo courtesy of the artist

"Lacquer is a fairly complicated material. Many painters prefer to choose other materials. Hence, only artists with real passions can follow the art.”

Sơn said today’s artists are lucky enough to learn experience from preceding painters, from the first painters who brought lacquer resin from fine art to painting, to the artists of the post-Indochina period and those of the post-open-door period.

“The most important factor is the freedom spirit in creation and techniques,” he added.

“Vietnamese artists tend to accept the changes of nature and the hardness in controlling materials. They have turned accidents into spontaneous advantages, which is a unique feature of Vietnamese painting. We realise this when comparing lacquer paintings of Vietnamese artists to those by foreign artists.”

The exhibition will run until May 15 at S Plus at 66 Ngô Thì Nhậm Street.

Those interested can call 0844 919 919 to make enquiries. — VNS

Lam (Blue) by painter Lý Trực Sơn. — Photo courtesy of the artist

Người Tình (Lover) by painter Vũ Thu Hiền. — Photo courtesy of the artist