Mountains and forests in the heart of Hanoi painter

Until September 15, art lovers in the capital will have the opportunity to admire painter Do Duc's seventh solo exhibition entitled "Borderland Scenery" at the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum (VNFAM) in Hanoi. Featuring more than 50 of his latest oil paintings, the event promises an emotionally charged artistic experience.

The artwork entitled Highland Market by painter Do Duc.

Majestic mountains and forests depicted in paintings

Do Duc's exhibition returns this year, exactly 10 years after his last solo show in 2014. After two decades of passionate oil painting, the artist has staged the exhibition "Borderland Scenery". With more than 50 works of art, he has overcome the challenges of the method to recreate the beauty of stone and mountains. The Northwest Region, Viet Bac Military Zone and Dong Van Karst Plateau are his endless sources of inspiration, which are depicted in works such as 'Sunshine on Hong Ngai Range', 'Early Highland Mist'. West Side of Son Vi', 'Khau Vai Legend' or 'March in Xin Cai'.

The artwork entitled "Late Afternoon".

The painter has spent his entire creative career capturing the big picture of the majestic mountainous borderlands of northern Vietnam. In Borderland Scenery, Do Duc plays the role of narrator, guiding visitors to explore the grandeur of the mountains and forests - coupled with the serenity of Vietnamese villages.

Through the colorful oil paintings of rocks, mountains, fields, markets and people in the highlands, he once again skillfully professed his deep love for the motherland. Each of the paintings bore the bold mark of a soul deeply attached to nature and life there. 

Painter Do Duc explains about his artwork at the exhibition.

According to the painter, he first visited Ha Giang in 1973, traveling through several highland districts such as Dong Van and Quan Ba for just 23 days. Since then, this border region has followed him throughout his artistic career.

"Over many years of field trips in the mountains, from Tay Bac (Northwest) to Viet Bac and Dong Bac (Northeast), exploring and sharing the lives of ethnic minorities, I discovered many humanistic values that connect nature with people," he told The Hanoi Times.

"The reciprocal interactions from different perspectives helped me to gradually translate the depth of this relationship into my paintings. The historical connection between man and the land allows me to recreate the space of its early formation. I have observed how people in the green forest intimately receive the sharing of rivers, plants, mountains and rocks," he added.

Horse-themed paintings are also loved by Do Duc. The artwork is called "The Early Moon"

Late artist Anh Thuong, during a visit to Do Duc paintings, said: “It is landscape, but it has become the country’s portrait. Looking at the paintings, one wants to step into them, seeing villages and forests full of the vitality of people”

“In hidden corners and turns, one can see people existing there, sheltering and making a living. Viewing the paintings, one sees that the ethnic groups have formed the values of the nation’s frontier...”.

A talent painter

Born in 1945, painter Do Duc showed his talent for art at an early age. In 1970, he graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Viet Bac Intermediate School for Culture and Arts. Ten years later, his woodcut painting ‘Highland Market’ made for his excellent graduation thesis defense. This opened up opportunities for his artworks to enter collections of VNFAM.

A portrait of the painter Do Duc.

Do Duc's creative career has been recognized as many of his paintings have been added to the collections of prestigious museums. At the VNFAM and the Museum of Cultures of Vietnam's Ethnic Groups in Thai Nguyen Province, viewers can admire nearly 30 of his works, which mainly reflect a realistic and profound view of the lifestyles and cultures of ethnic minorities in northern Vietnam.

Besides being a talented painter, Do Duc is also a researcher of ethnic customs and practices. He has written fascinating books such as "Costumes and Cultural Traits of Ethnic Minorities in Northern Vietnam" and "Hanoi is Right Here.

In total, he has authored 17 books and co-authored several others. He has also conducted, compiled, and published, together with his colleagues, studies on fine arts, including "A Study on Modern Vietnamese Fine Arts," "Vietnamese Woodcuts," "Fine Arts of Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam," and "Photography of Ethnic Minorities in Vietnam.

Painting auction for charity

"On the Field" has been selected for auction with a starting bid of $1,500 to benefit a school construction fund.

On the occasion of the exhibition celebrating his 54 years as a painter, Do Duc is also officially releasing his oil painting book of the same name. Published by the Fine Arts Publishing House in the third quarter of 2024, the 124-page book is a comprehensive summary of his 20-year creative journey with about 200 amazing oil paintings.

As part of the exhibition, a special art talk between the artist and visitors will take place on September 14. The public will have the opportunity not only to listen to his talk about his journey, but also to make donations to the school building fund "Flowers of Stone".

In particular, the artist will auction the oil painting "On the Field", created in 2022 and measuring 60x80cm, and all the proceeds will go to the fund.

Here are some typical paintings of Do Duc:

"Highland Sunrise".

"The Mountain Rocks".

"March Sunlight".

"A Highland Mother".

"The People of the Lo Lo Ethnic Minority".

"The Borderland".