HÀ NỘI — A group of three contemporary painters, Trần Dân, Trần Hiền and Lại Minh Huyên, has unveiled their newest works at an ongoing exhibition in Hà Nội.

Entitled Khởi Sinh Lacquer (The Birth of Lacquer), the exhibition showcases 33 lacquer paintings which are the result of their creativeness over the past two years at X-No8 – an artist-in-residence studio founded by artist Trần Dân.

Initiated in mid-2020, X-No8 is a sanctum dedicated to the Vietnamese traditional art form of lacquer, where the artists have been working together, creating contemporary paintings with this traditional medium.

A visitor looks at a lacquer painting at ‘The Birth of Lacquer’ exhibition. — Photo courtesy of X-No8 Studio

“The studio partly reflects the life and spirit of the artists. The venue is the place where the artists expose their inner thoughts and feelings through their artworks, therefore, the studio has witnessed entire the working process of every artist,” said Dân.

Explaining the reason why the trio chose to use lacquer as the medium, they said that the material also plays an important role in their creative process.

“The final result after lacquering is always surprising and beyond our expectation,” Dân said.

From left, artists Trần Dân, Trần Hiền, and Lại Minh Huyên. — Photo courtesy of X-No8 Studio

For female artist Trần Hiền, working on this material requires certain patience.

“The artist can’t be impatient or hurried. Myself, whenever I work with lacquer, I feel like I am a Zen master who acts slowly and can count my every single breath,” she said.

Focusing on three main topics -- Human Life, Harmony [of Mind and Body], and Multiplication -- through the vibrant and warm colours, together with impressionistic strokes, each painting presents an intense and positive energy about life. The collection also reflects the harmony between humans and nature.

The Birth of Lacquer exhibition opens to the public until the end of September at X-No8 Studio which is located within the V-Art Space, Level 1, Ciputra Club in Ciputra Urban Area in Bắc Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội.

The exhibition then travels to HCM City in November. VNS