Traditionally inspired graphics by Hanoi artists

The exhibition Graphic Art - From Folklore to Contemporary has opened in Hanoi, presenting more than 50 artworks by six contemporary Vietnamese printmakers Nguyen Nghia Phuong, Phan Hai Bang, Vu Dinh Tuan, Pham Khac Quang, Vu Bach Lien, Nguyen Khac Han.

The exhibition presents a wide variety of woodblock collections inspired by traditional printmaking techniques, which contain each artist's personal identity and modern ideas.

The artworks have a contemporary touch in both content and form. The vision, stories, and ideas of the authors have created new emotions for the public who come to enjoy art.

Painter Nguyen Nghia Phuong is distinguished by the deep folk aesthetics and the breath of the cultural traits of the Kinh Bac region.

Visitors at the exhibition. Photo: VNA

Painter Phan Hai Bang, meantime, creates pieces that combine intricate allusions with fertility, the struggle of personal emotions in the realm of patience and enlightenment.

His friend Vu Dinh Tuan captivates viewers with a mysterious, magical oriental painting style, while his colleague Pham Khac Quang is flexible in the use of visual effects and the ability to convey the feeling of being captivated and enchanted by meticulousness.

An artwork by Vu Bach Lien.

Vu Bach Lien's works, with their detailed structure, large scale and special creativity, are displayed alongside those of Nguyen Khac Han, who makes a strong and deep visual impression, showing his interest in aspects of East-West convergence, mentioning modern-traditional cultures through black and white tones.

Graphic art has a long history throughout the centuries. Its history in Vietnam dates back thousands of years, starting with the engravings and stencils of Buddhist scriptures, to the lines of folk engravings from the 16th to 19th centuries, such as Dong Ho, Hang Trong, Kim Hoang folk paintings. Today, although some features have been lost, the folk paintings imbued with the ancient spirit of art still have their values intact.

Ladies - An artwork by Vu Dinh Tuan.

The generation of painters of the French Indochina period and the artists of the two resistance wars have left their mark on the history of Vietnamese art with excellent graphic works, including prints and woodblock prints, such as Nguyen Sang, To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can and Ta Ty.

The next generation with many contributions to printmaking includes Vu Duy Nghia, Tran Nguyen Dan, Phung Pham and Le Huy Tiep. They continued the flow of printmaking from ancient history to modern times.

Now, the artists participating in the exhibition Graphic Art - From Folklore to Contemporary play an important role in the development of Vietnamese graphic art, as they are not only famous artists who represent the contemporary graphic art scene in Vietnam in recent years but also form emerging artists.

The exhibition is open until September 29 at Anh Duong Art Space in Long Bien District.

Ngu kim by Nguyen Nghia Phuong.