Trinh Thanh Tung

ARTIST TRỊNH THANH TÙNG

“Trịnh Thanh Tùng draws as if he was playing and dreaming, sometimes as real as nature. Watching his brush’s line on canvas streaming coolly as smooth as the water, we seem to see the flame inside. This adventurer draws as if he was living and falling in love with hope and disappointment, dreaming on canvas flat with many strokes both in good order, model, details and uncontrollableness, craziness. His brush seemed to be an uncontrollable horse trying to bolt to escape from the artist’s control and lean on the viewers’ feelings, continue to draw etc.”, said poet Trần Mạnh Hảo.

Born in 1942 in Sài Gòn (Ho Chi Minh City).
His real name is Trịnh Văn Đức. His father’s homeland is Hải Phòng City, but he was born in Sài Gòn. He learned Fine Arts through books and took a correspondence course. He began to draw in 1958.

Since 1962, he took part in revolutionary activities in the patriotic movement of pupils and students in the Sài Gòn – Gia Định community. He was imprisoned many times during 7 years due to his involvement in the suicide forces (1966-1972).

From 1972-1975, he painted again. However, due to unfavorable conditions, the number of his artworks was not considerable.
From 1975-1985, he mainly drew caricature paintings for some newspapers in HCM City under the pen-name “Rocket.”

He is a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.
In fact, he has just begun to devote his whole mind to creating artworks since 1986.

Aiming for pure fine art, he explores the natural flexibility between reality, symbolism, and abstraction. He seeks poetic characteristics and timeless memories and sometimes “inspires the viewers with his painful feelings, though they are the origin of lofty joy.”

He is a skillful artist in oil painting and often applies refined hot colors (especially shades of brown), enhancing the brightness of his paintings with subtle white streaks.

Notable Works:

• Baggage (1985)
• Memorial Game (1986)
• Singing for My Citizens (1988, HCM City Revolutionary Museum)
• Evening and Solitary Bird (1989)

Main Exhibitions:

• 1964-1965: The Ministry of Information, HCMC.
• 1965: Catinat Hotel, HCMC.
• 1966: The Ministry of Information, HCMC.
• 1988: Service of Culture and Information, HCMC.
• 1989: Tự Do Art Gallery, HCMC.
• 1991: Singapore.
• 1992: Asian Master, Malaysia.
• 1993: Vietnam – Singapore International Exhibition, HCMC.
• 1994: Vietnam – Japan International Exhibition, HCMC.
• 1995: Artenegie Gallery, Texas, USA.
• 1996: Tây Sơn Gallery, HCMC.
• 1998: Tự Do Art Gallery, HCMC.
• 2001: Emerald Hill Studio, Singapore.
• 2005: Tự Do Art Gallery, HCMC.
• 2008: Solo exhibition “Fifty Years of Painting”, HCMC.
• 2009: Group exhibition at Phương Mai Gallery, HCMC.

Awards and Recognitions:

• 1966: Awarded at Spring Exhibition.
• 1990: Bronze Medal, National Exhibition.
• 1997: Awarded Medal for Vietnam Art.
• 2002: National Prize Zone VI, HCMC.
• 2003: National Prize Zone VI, HCMC.
• 2004: National Prize Zone VI, HCMC.
• 2004: Awarded Medal for Vietnam Literature and Fine Arts.

Phương Mai Gallery