Bui Huu Hung

(Vietnamese, born 1957)

Still Life with Oil Lamp

Footnotes

Provenance
Apricot Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2007
Private collection, Europe


In the field of contemporary Vietnamese art, Bui Huu Hung stands as a beacon of both tradition and modernity. Born in 1957 in the cultural heart of Vietnam, Hanoi, Hung began his artistic journey at the age of 18, drawn to the ancient allure of lacquer painting. His search for authenticity led him to experience and engage with diverse aspects of Vietnam's rural life, where he immersed himself in the heritage of this intricate art form.

Following his military service in 1978, Hung's quest for artistic excellence led him to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. There he refined and mastered the techniques of lacquer painting.

Lacquer is a medium known for its complexity and vibrancy, and Hung's works demonstrate his mastery of it. His signature style combines grandeur and intimacy, often capturing the regal essence of Vietnamese women. These figures, draped in opulent attire, are set against a backdrop of intricate designs, their eyes reflecting a spectrum of emotions ranging from contemplation to quiet confidence.

The artist's use of gold foil in his paintings is not merely decorative. It imbues his work with a dynamic play of light, bringing textures and colours to life with a radiant glow. This technique, coupled with his innovative use of space, gives his subjects an ethereal quality, as if they existed beyond the temporal world.

Hung's figurative works are widely celebrated, and while his still life paintings are less known, they are no less significant. They reflect the same attention to detail and depth, and the lustrous finish of the lacquer adds a layer of sophistication that makes everyday objects transcend their ordinary purpose.

Bui Huu Hung's art is a bridge between the past and the present, a fusion of time-honoured methods and contemporary sensibilities. Through his paintings, he not only preserves the legacy of Vietnamese lacquer painting but also redefines it, ensuring its relevance in the world of modern art.