Artist Hùng Khuynh (first right) and his colleages at the exhibition opening ceremony. Photo facebook Hùng Khuynh

HÀ NỘI — Fifty sơn mài (lacquer) paintings are on display to celebrate the four decades of artist Hùng Khuynh's career in the Art Space gallery at 42 Yết Kiêu, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội.

The exhibition combines traditional and contemporary designs, including paintings made in the early stages of his career and more current ones.

Highlights include Cấu Trúc Xoay Vần (Spinning Structure) from 2023-24; Xuân Về Trên Rẻo Cao (Spring Comes in Mountainous Area) from 2021-22; Vinh Quy (Honour Ceremony) in 2015 and Khát Vọng (Desire) in 1999.

"Sơn mài material has a visual depth to create a dialogue among eras," said Hùng Khuynh at the exhibition opening ceremony.

"This material inspires me to create art from the abstract to the realistic, and from traditional to modern. To me, art is my life, my love and my breath."

Visitors at the exhibition will feel a folk culture vibe that blends different art genres such as tuồng (classical opera), chèo (popular opera) and traditional festivals and customs.

The use of sơn mài material is an artistic journey to honour and popularise traditional cultural values. Sơn mài is where the artist can connect the past to the present, the simplicity of tradition and the sophistication of modern art.

"The folk art-themed paintings by Hùng Khuynh are very valuable in Việt Nam's fine arts circle," said Tiến Hùng, who holds a PhD in Aesthetics.

Despite his use of folk materials, Hùng Khuynh's paintings are not old-fashioned. Traditional themes are expressed in a new and creative way with his skills and philosophy, intersecting with modernity.

Born in 1954 in the northern province of Nam Định, Hùng Khuynh graduated from the Việt Nam Academy of Fine Arts in 1984.

Over his career, the artist has been awarded several times, winning the Việt Nam Fine Arts Association Award, a silver medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition and the Asian Fine Arts Award.

He has displayed his paintings at group and solo exhibitions in Bulgaria, Russia, Japan, Switzerland and China.

The exhibition runs until October 5. — VNS