Hoang Dang Nhuan (1942-14.7.2021)
ARTIST HOANG DANG NHUAN (1942 – 14.7.2021)
- Outline artist biography and art.
1942: Born in Hue.
My father didn’t allow me to paint when I was a child. And up to now I can understand him well. Although an artist’s life is too miserable, I’ll never give it up. Fine Arts is the breath of my life.
Member of the Vietnam Fine Art Association.
Sixteen solo exhibitions.
Particapated in exhibition in Poland, Germany, Russia, Japan, Czechslovakia.
1971: Exhibiton of paitings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Dinh Cuong in Da Nang City.
1972: Exhibiton of paintings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Rung in Saigon.
1973: Solo exhibition in Washington D.C, USA.
1987-1989: Exhibiton of paitings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Buu Chi in Hue & Hanoi.
1990: Two solo exhibitions of paintings in Paris.
1991: Exhibiton of paitings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Duong Dinh Sang in Hue.
1992: Exhibiton of paitings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Bui Xuan Phai, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Nguyen Tung, Buu Chi, Trinh Cuong, Tran Luu Hau, Dang Xuan Hoa, Nguyen Quan, Tran Trong Vu in Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea.
1997: Exhibiton of paitings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Buu Chi in HoChiminh City.
1998: Exhibiton of paitings by Le Pho, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Luu Cong Nhan, Tran Luu Hau, Nguyen Trung, Buu Chi, Do Hoang Tuong, Le Quang Ha in Vinh Loi Gallery.
2000: Exhibiton of paitings by Hoang Dang Nhuan and Dang Xuan Hoa in Singapore.
2005: Exhibiton of Vietnamese Fine Art contemporary organised by Quang Nam Tourist.
Exhibiton of paitings by Nguyen Tan Cuong, Nguyen Quan, Ho Huu Thu, Nguyen Lam, Trinh Thanh Tung, Le Thanh Thu, Lam Triet, Lim Kim Kathy organised by HoChiMinh City Fine Arts Association.
2007: Exhibiton of paitings by Trinh Cong Son, Buu Chi and Dinh Cuong organised by Hue Fine Art Association.
Particapation in France-Hue culture Center.
Particapation in Art auction of Operation Smile in HoChiMinh City.
Having paintings in Vietnam Fine Arts museum, Singapore Fine Arts museum and many private collections in land and aboard.
- How did you become an artist? Talk about your start, and what made you interested in art?
I don’t know how I became an artist. I began to paint at random, and Fine Arts became my “profession” unexpectedly. What made me indulge in Arts? I get happiness when I create an art work. So that I draw new paintings turn by turn to find a new happiness.
- Your art works’ style?
To be honest, I haven’t known well about the thing called “Style” for years. Art Critics may see that more clearly than me when they enjoy my art works. As for me, I just hope to draw beautifully and transfer my emotions to the viewers poetically. In particular, my paintings seem to be naive and they don’t look like any others.
- What is your inspiration as well as your mentor or idol?
A sandcrab is lonesome on a beach, a young girl unties her hair on the hill, a paper-kite fly in the sky at decline of day, or a gloomy and quiet street, etc. Are they not enough for the artist to find out his inspiration?
- What makes you different from others in Vietnam? What makes you different and special compared to others?
I think that I can not wish to be similar to the others. Personality, skill and spirit as well as creative ability make the artists’ own characteristics. The richer in personality, skill and spirit as well as creative ability you are, the more you become special.
- How do you view Vietnam and the outside world?
I was fortunate to join many Exhibitions with many famous artists in domestic and oversea. I believe that many Fine Art tendencies will explode in early decades of 21th century. It seems that after the renovation, domestic artists have still breath-taken in front of the wide sky with freedom. And maybe today artists’ generation hasn’t got enough time to leave their marks as Indochina Fine Arts generation did.
- What are your likes and dislikes?
I like honest friends, love to be loved by beautiful women, and also the loneliness, etc. What I don’t like is the same as the other artists – I don’t like to be criticised badly.
- Why do you utilize this medium or style?
Actually, I don’t know the reason why I use this material. Maybe it’s my habit taken shape accidentally. I used to draw on canvas.
- What are you trying to communicate in your art works? If you have a common message or ideology for all of your works, please state it.
Each artist has his desire to express some messages through his paintings. In my opinion, each viewer has his own feelings about messages which is recommended in paintings. Sometimes, the viewer’s feelings can go over the initial message of the painter. I believe that viewers will understand what I want to transfer in my paintings.
- Is there any hidden meanings or any messages behind your art works? Is it something political or personal…or some other feelings or thoughts?
Actually, I don’t pay much attention to “The official stage” and painting is a political behaviour. What I transfered in my paintings are also political messages. If you understand politics as a symbol of social super-structure, it’s also a method to transfer inside feelings through Fine Arts. The inside feelings are spiritual secrets like love. When enjoying my paintings, the viewers just feel, but they can not “understand” my inside feelings.
- What is your ideology and views on art?
I don’t like to mention great things like “thought system” or “ viewpoint of Arts”. As Pham Thi Hoai writer used to state, “Writing is the rule of propriety”. For me, drawing is a game with color, brush…of life. Every artist has his own philosophical thoughts, otherwise he is only a “limner”.
- Who are you and why should people purchase and collect your art works?
Obviously, people collect my paintings because they like my paintings. Besides, especially with the collectors, they may find out some certain values that I can not understand completely.
