Tran Minh Hien
What excites me with the lacquer painting is not only the use of natural materials(such as paint from resin, gold, silver and pigments from minerals, mussel shells, snail shells, egg shells, etc.) - it’s more the beauty of how,over time, this media will gain more and more depth in color, how the hidden sparkle of gold, silver, carmine, mother-of-pearl, egg shells, mixed with the paints will reveal themselves to create shimmering, fanciful colors.
Also because the process of creating a lacquer painting is as special as its name (Sơn Mài): “Sơn” means “paint”; and “Mài” means “grind”.
Lacquer practice goes through many stages: finding ideas, sketching on wood, painting, drying paintings in a closed room with high humidity. The artwork will appear after grinding under water and repeating the steps for around approximately 7-8 times until the work is completed.
How lacquer brings joy to me when I interact with the material is that the variation of each layer of color always creates a surprise that only the artist can fully feel.
I realized that after all, what humans want the most is living their life in peace. What I really want is to people slow down when they see my artwork - like my process when I’m making a final lacquer painting. Feel the whisper of the flower, the grass, the rustling of leaves, your connection to the universe is my final aim.
EDUCATION
- 2008 : Graduated from Faculty of Fine Arts at National University of Art Education
- 2013 : Graduated from Faculty of Graphics - Vietnam University of Fine Arts
- 2013 : Member of Tuyen Quang Fine Arts Association
SELECTED EXHIBITION
2011 " Art Exhibition Area III"
"Exhibition of Young Fine Arts Artists Festival 2012"
"Regional Fine Arts Exhibition III" ( B Prize Vietnamese Art)
"Asean Graphics Exhibition"
2014
Group exhibition in Hanoi Rock City, Vietnam
"Young Artist Award" (Vietnam Literary and Art Association)
2015 "C Prize" (Vietnam Literary and Art Association)
2016 "Asean Graphics Exhibition".