Artist at work: Painter Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm and his wife at home in December 2013. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn |
HÀ NỘI — Painter Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm, one of Vietnamese greatest artists, passed away yesterday at 10.30am. He was 94. The famous painter had a stroke earlier last month and had been hospitalised ever since.
Born in 1922 in the central province of Nghệ An, he was keen on drawing at a young age. After finishing primary school in his home town, Nghiêm followed his older borther to Hà Nội to learn drawing.
National treasure: Painter Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm, one of Viet Nam’s greatest artists, passed away yesterday.— Photo tuoitre.vn |
He then joined the revolution against the French in 1945. He held various positions in his life, including Việt Nam Fine Arts University lecturer on the Việt Bắc Revolutionary Base, Hà Nội Industrial Fine Arts College lecturer, and Việt Nam Fine Arts Association member.
Nghiêm was awarded the Hồ Chí Minh Prize in Literature and Arts in 1996. He was renowned as a creative painter who experimented in new materials for lacquer painting in Việt Nam. He was also successful with oil paintings on canvas, pastel, and water colour.
Nghiêm ranks among the four most influential painters in 20th century Việt Nam, along with Bùi Xuân Phái (1920-1988), Nguyễn Sáng (1923-1988), and Dương Bích Liên (1924-1988). — VNS
Art legacy: A lacquer painting of Saint Gióng by Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm. — Photo tienphong.vn |