...Hung Khuynh...

I. Introduction to Artist Hung Khuynh

Artist Hùng Khuynh, whose real name is Pham Manh Hung, was born in 1954 in Hải Hậu District, Nam Định Province. The province is located south of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam.

In terms of his education, Hung Khuynh graduated from the Hanoi College of Fine Arts, where he studied from 1979 to 1984. During his studies, he specialized in lacquer painting, while also devoting himself extensively to the traditional techniques and materials of Vietnamese lacquer art.

II. Standing and Prestigious Artistic Awards

As a professional artist, he has established a significant position within the Vietnamese art scene. Today, his works are prominently displayed at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. In addition, his paintings are highly sought after by collectors both in Vietnam and internationally. His works can be found in collections in the United Kingdom, Australia, Indonesia, France, the United States, and Canada. Many art enthusiasts in Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Belgium, and Italy also own his paintings.

Through his dedicated artistic practice, he has received numerous prestigious awards:

• 1985: Recipient of the Capital Arts Award.
• 1994: Recipient of a prestigious award from the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.
• 1995: Awarded the Silver Medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition. Notably, no Gold Medal was awarded at this edition of the exhibition.
• 2000: Honored with four ASEAN Art Awards.

III. A Rich and Extensive Artistic Career

Hung Khuynh’s career has been marked by an extensive series of exhibitions, ranging from major events in Vietnam to international art platforms:

1. Establishing His Artistic Career (1980 – 1995)

• 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995: Regularly participated in the National Fine Arts Exhibition.
• 1987: Participated in the Asia-Pacific Fine Arts Exhibition held in Moscow.
• 1987, 1988, 1989: Participated in the annual Painting Exhibition held in Bulgaria.
• 1987, 1989, 1991, 2000: Participated in the Annual Capital Fine Arts Exhibition.
• 1992: Successfully held a solo exhibition in the former imperial capital of Hue. He also participated in an international exhibition in Japan.
• 1993: Held a solo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City.
• 1994: Presented a solo exhibition at the Hanoi Art Exchange and Introduction Center.
• 1995: Held a solo exhibition at 16 Ngo Quyen, Hanoi.

2. International Breakthrough (1997 – 2002)

• 1997, 1998, 2000: Actively participated in ASEAN Painting Exhibitions in Hanoi.
• 2000: Exhibited at the Vietnamese Oil Painting Exhibition in Beijing, China.
• 2001: Participated in lacquer exhibitions in Shenzhen and Beijing, China. He also took part in the exhibition “Dialogue Among Civilizations” at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Subsequently: Participated in an international art exhibition in Bali, Indonesia.
• 2002: Presented Vietnamese cultural heritage at the Vietnamese Lacquer Exhibition in Seoul, South Korea.

IV. The Melody of Home in Hung Khuynh’s Paintings

Since 1980, Hung Khuynh has increasingly participated in major artistic events. Driven by enthusiasm and passion, he has consistently embraced artistic renewal. At the same time, he places strong emphasis on imagination and personal emotion while skillfully preserving the essence of traditional Vietnamese art. Through this approach, he creates works rich in folk motifs and decorative elements.

Communal houses, pagodas, and images of dragons appear naturally throughout his paintings. Lotus flowers, incense burners, drifting incense smoke, and traditional folk dances also emerge vividly. These distinctive images of rural festivals evoke a sense of connection to cultural origins. Together, they form the foundation of Hùng Khuynh’s distinctive artistic style.

By combining silk, oil paint, do paper, Chinese ink, and lacquer, he creates vibrant and joyful palettes. Through these materials, Hùng Khuynh conveys the simplicity and sincerity of traditional village festivities. His imagery and brushwork consistently offer a fresh visual impression, evoking the feeling of a beautiful melody from a symphony heard again and again. Ultimately, his paintings are not only compelling in composition but also imbued with a profound philosophical spirit.