Self-portrait by painter Phạm Luận. The artwork is being displayed at Phạm Luận – Chân Dung (Phạm Luận – Portraits) exhibition.
HÀ NỘI — An exhibition showcasing portraits by Phạm Luận, a renowned painter in Vietnamese contemporary arts, has opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hà Nội.
Renowned for his landscape paintings, this is the first time he has introduced his portrait works to the public, showcasing his distinctive and remarkable artistic space.
Nearly 60 paintings displayed at Phạm Luận – Chân Dung (Phạm Luận – Portraits) exhibition were selected from hundreds of works that the painter has created since the early days of his career. Two-thirds of them have been painted over the past two years.
Luận believes that portraits must accurately depict the image and aura of the person being portrayed. His most beautiful portraits are those of his wife, children, siblings, colleagues, close friends, and himself, simply because he feels the closest connection to them.
Besides individual portraits, the 70-year-old painter also unveiled group portraits, including notable ones such as Studio Của Phạm Luận (Phạm Luận's Studio) and Tối Nay Có Khách (Guests Tonight). Each person, whether a colleague or a family member, has been "placed" into the paintings, appearing with their own distinctive personalities and expressions, evoking much interest in the viewers.
Over the course of more than 50 years as an artist, Luận has marked the stages of his creative journey with 23 solo exhibitions. His first exhibition was organised in 1991, and the most recent titled Tíc Tắc Sài Gòn took place in 2022, portraying the resurgence of HCM City after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. His artworks have been featured in numerous renowned museums and private collections both domestically and internationally.
His 24th exhibition is held this year as a gift to celebrate his 70th birthday and welcome the Lunar New Year of the Dragon.
Phạm Luận – Chân Dung (Phạm Luận – Portraits) exhibition features nearly 60 portraits by painter Phạm Luận. VNA/VNS Photo Phương Lan
Phạm Luận – Portraits marks a new milestone in Luận’s artistic career in the genre of portrait painting. He went beyond his familiar successes to set new challenges for himself, demonstrating his dedication and relentless creativity.
Artist Lương Xuân Đoàn, chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, remarked: "The artistic space of Phạm Luận is always open, with countless entrances and elusive exits."
“Luận is indeed a humble person who leads a simple life and has a warm and approachable personality towards everyone. The path of artistic creativity is never without challenges. The horizon seems so close, but with each step taken, it feels farther away. Luận understands this. The more he paints, the more he explores, the more he evolves and grows as an artist,” the chairman said.
Phạm Luận – Portraits runs until March 5. — VNS
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