ABOUT ARTIST CHU NHẬT QUANG
Born in 1995 in Hanoi, Chu Nhật Quang is a young artist with a rich educational background and creative outlook.
He studied painting at Santa Ana College, California, USA, from 2013 to 2018 and graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Design from RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, in 2023. Chu Nhật Quang's artistic thinking was formed and developed in a family environment steeped in artistic tradition, combined with the influence of Western painting styles and his working experience in graphic design, animation and 3D.
From an early age, Chu Nhật Quang grew up in an atmosphere suffused with art, his creativity nurtured and inspired by two generations of artists before him. His grandfather, the gifted lacquer painter Chu Mạnh Chấn, had a profound passion for art and devoted himself to restoring and preserving the cultural heritage of the villages of northern Viet Nam through lacquer painting. His father, a Meritorious Artist in traditional Vietnamese water puppetry, has also made a considerable contribution to preserving and developing this distinctive national art form.
For more information about artist Chu Nhật Quang, please read on here.
OPENING CEREMONY OF THE "DẤU THIÊNG" EXHIBITION AT THE THANG LONG IMPERIAL CITADEL
On the evening of 5 October, the large-format lacquer painting exhibition "Dấu thiêng" (Sacred Traces) by artist Chu Nhật Quang opened at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The exhibition was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (10 October 1954 – 10 October 2024).
The ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the "Dấu thiêng" lacquer painting exhibition.
Speaking at the opening, artist Chu Nhật Quang said: "I am deeply moved that so many people have come and shown interest in my exhibition. I treasure the traditional values of Vietnamese lacquer, and I feel a responsibility to inherit and promote these traditional values and to discover new approaches and modes of expression for Vietnamese lacquer art. My hope is that my lacquer paintings can bring the public in touch with emotions ranging from the ancient to the modern, and breathe new life into Vietnamese lacquer art."
"Following on from Dấu thiêng, I am also completing a series of large-format lacquer paintings about President Hồ Chí Minh to mark the 50th anniversary of national reunification in the city that bears his name, and the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Day in the capital, Hanoi," the young artist added.
Artist Chu Nhật Quang shared his hope of travelling throughout the country to learn, hone his skills and contribute his modest creative energy to recreating the beauty of the nation's landscapes. It is a long and arduous journey requiring great effort, and each painting is a small step towards overcoming every limit. Through the exhibition, he hopes to pass on his passion and to share his dedication and artistic vision with the public.
"Dấu thiêng" is a journey of discovering and honouring the enduring beauty of Vietnamese lacquer painting. Each painting embodies the skill, talented hands, patience and rich inner life of artist Chu Nhật Quang. "Dấu thiêng" is not merely a painting exhibition but also a bridge connecting traditional and modern materials. It is a great opportunity to bring lacquer painting closer to lovers of contemporary art.
The opening of the "Dấu thiêng" lacquer painting exhibition was attended by many senior leaders and leading figures of the Vietnamese art world. The exhibition was jointly organised by the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre, the Viet Nam Association for Vocational Education, Training and Social Work (VAVET&SOW) and VIETCOM Company. Running until 15 October 2024, it is an unmissable event on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital.
ABOUT THE WORKS IN THE "DẤU THIÊNG" EXHIBITION
The work "Dấu thiêng", one of the paintings on display at the "Dấu thiêng" exhibition by artist Chu Nhật Quang.
The lacquer painting exhibition "Dấu thiêng" is a profound journey of discovery into the culture, history and soul of the Vietnamese people. Through 52 works divided into four themes, artist Chu Nhật Quang skilfully combines personal memories, traditional values and a modern perspective, creating a panoramic picture of Viet Nam, Hanoi and their people. The exhibition is not simply an artistic showcase but also a journey back to one's roots, a reminder of the importance of preserving and promoting the craft of lacquer painting and traditional cultural values in the modern world.
To view the works in the "Dấu thiêng" exhibition in detail, please see here.
POSITIVE ASSESSMENTS FROM EXPERTS
The talented young artist Chu Nhật Quang has received positive assessments from leading figures in the fields of education and fine arts. The President of the Viet Nam Association for Vocational Education, Training and Social Work, Dr. Phan Sỹ Nghĩa, described Chu Nhật Quang as "a shining example in preserving and promoting Viet Nam's traditional lacquer art". He said:
"With a deep passion for art, he has continuously learnt and trained over many years. Having received formal training at renowned art schools abroad, artist Chu Nhật Quang has built a solid foundation not only in fine arts but also in contemporary design. It is precisely this combination that has given him a unique creative style and enabled him to contribute greatly to carrying forward and developing the art of lacquer painting.
What I admire in artist Chu Nhật Quang is not only his artistic talent and his love for the traditional craft of lacquer painting, but also the generosity he shows towards the community, especially children and people in difficult circumstances. He has devoted much time and effort to giving free classes, bringing knowledge and a love of art to those who have few opportunities to access the fine arts.
As an active participant in the charitable activities of the Viet Nam Association for Vocational Education, Training and Social Work, artist Chu Nhật Quang is committed to continuing his contributions and helping to promote artistic, educational and community support activities, particularly for vulnerable people in society. I believe that, with his talent and passionate heart, he will continue to make even more valuable contributions to art and to the community."
Writer Nguyễn Quang Thiều, President of the Viet Nam Writers' Association; artist Thành Chương; historian Dương Trung Quốc, former Member of the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th National Assembly; and journalist Hồ Quang Lợi, Vice President of the Viet Nam Digital Communications Association and former Standing Vice President of the Viet Nam Journalists' Association, have also praised his talent and expressed confidence in the brilliant career that lies ahead of him.
To read these assessments in full, please see here.
THE PRESS ON ARTIST CHU NHẬT QUANG
Not only experts but also Viet Nam's major newspapers, including VietnamNet, Dân trí and VnExpress, have published articles about the talented artist Chu Nhật Quang and his lacquer exhibition "Dấu thiêng". The articles all highly appreciate his dedication to Vietnamese painting through his unique and creative works, and note that his greatest source of inspiration has always been his homeland, even though he was exposed to Western culture during his years of study and research abroad.
Among them, Tiền Phong newspaper published an article on Chu Nhật Quang entitled "The artist admired by painter Thành Chương and writer Nguyễn Quang Thiều". VietnamNet wrote: "The national soul permeates the lacquer paintings of artist Chu Nhật Quang". Nhân Dân newspaper wrote: "Young artist brings a new perspective to lacquer painting".
Readers can find the full articles about artist Chu Nhật Quang here.
SIDE ACTIVITIES
Alongside his artistic activities, artist Chu Nhật Quang is also very active in charitable programmes supporting children and vulnerable people in society, bringing them smiles and hope.
On 28 August 2024, the Viet Nam Association for Vocational Education, Training and Social Work (VAVET&SOW), Lao Cai College and artist Chu Nhật Quang organised a gift-giving programme for 518 pupils of Tân Tiến Semi-boarding Primary School for Ethnic Minorities and Tân Tiến Semi-boarding Lower Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, Bảo Yên District, Lào Cai Province.
On 6 September 2024, VAVET&SOW, the Viet Nam Autism Network (VAN) and artist Chu Nhật Quang organised an early Mid-Autumn Festival celebration for 30 children with autism in Hanoi.
Together with VAVET&SOW, VAN and others, artist Chu Nhật Quang not only teaches skills but also inspires a love of art, helping many people find comfort and opportunities to develop in life through art.
Photos and further details of artist Chu Nhật Quang's charitable activities can be found here and here.