On December 3, 2022, Bonhams Hong Kong Auction House will hold the ‘SOUTHEAST ASIAN MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART’ auction.
In the auction, there are some paintings by Vietnamese artists; graduated from Indochina Fine Arts College — Lê Phổ, Mai Trung Thứ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Văn Bình; graduated from the Resistance class — Lưu Công Nhân, Trần Lưu Hậu; talented painters in the South include Nguyễn Trung; and representing the generation of painters of the Đổi mới [Innovation] period, there is Bùi Hữu Hùng. In addition, there are two oil paintings by French professor Joseph Inguimberty, a respected teacher of many painters of the Indochina generation.
Not many Vietnamese works are included in the auction, but the artists are all famous… However, it’s hard to avoid a bit of grit.
According to information from Bonhams, the lacquer painting ‘Bản Nậm Nà’ [Nậm Nà village], 1991, 3 panels, 120×181cm was authenticated by the original document through the photo taken with the artist and the work. The painting was purchased directly from the artist by Yi gallery, Singapore. Later, Yi gallery sold it to its current owner, a Singaporean collector, in 2001.
Nguyễn Văn Bình (1917-2004). Bản Nậm Nà (Joy of Living). Lacquer, pigment, gold foil on wood. 120 × 181 cm. 47.25 × 71.25 in.
In fact, in Vietnam, the painting ‘Bản Nậm Nà’ of artist Văn Bình is one of the most famous and admired works. The painting is currently in the collection of Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. ‘Bản Nậm Nà’ which is currently on display at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, lacquer material, dated 1961, size 115.7× 175.3 cm; whether this is the first version of artist Van Binh or not, we don’t know exactly. In the book ‘Modern Vietnamese visual artist’ of Vietnam Fine Arts Association, the biography (sent by each artist) of painter Van Binh reads: “Major works: Herding Mongolian goats, pastel, 60×80, 1957; Bản Nậm Nà, lacquer, 120×160 cm, 1958…” In the book ‘Dictionary of painters’ of art critic Quang Viet also mentioned ‘Bản Nậm Nà’, lacquer, dated 1958. Art critic Quang Viet said, that information was provided by the artist himself. Even many years before that, artist Van Binh took him to see the painting ‘Bản Nậm Nà’ at the store of an import-export culture company.
VĂN BÌNH (1917-2004). Bản Nậm Nà. 1961. Lacquer. 115.7 × 175.3 cm. Collection of Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
According to knowledgeable people, about 4, 5 years ago, the family still had one lacquer painting ‘Bản Nậm Nà’, 4 panels, 120×180cm, currently in a private collection in Vietnam.
Artist Văn Bình in the photo with his work, in 1991 at his home in the lecturer’s quarters of Vietnam Fine Arts University, on Yết Kiêu Street (at that time). Documentary photo from Bonhams.
Not only that, even a sketch ‘Bản Nậm Nà’, black and white gouache, (provenance: the artist’s family) dated 1968, 120×180 cm was auctioned in Vietnam in 2018. Perhaps artist Văn Bình dated the work after drawing sketches for many years. It had happened occasionally in Vietnam. Especially the artists of the past…
The sketch ‘Bản Nậm Nà’, black and white gouache, (provenance: artist’s family) dated 1968, 120×180cm, was auctioned in Vietnam in 2018.
As for the fact that a painting has many versions, in fact, in Vietnam, due to difficult economic conditions, the painting was liked by many people, ordered… so artists sometimes redo a few more versions. This is a normal phenomenon in Vietnam. Even, an artist said that he painted over and over again dozens of paintings (silk) from an original to sell because many people like “just paint it for me, I like, I buy. Not only that, but it must be exactly the same as the previous one… because it’s already beautiful, just keep painting it…”
Return to the lacquer painting ‘Bản Nậm Nà’ of artist Văn Bình about to be auctioned at Bonhams to see that this painting was created by the artist himself; contains its own historical significance; typical for a difficult economic period of Vietnamese society at that time.
With the dimension of 120×181 cm, the three-panel lacquer painting has a starting price of 800,000 – 1,200,000 HKD. That is about 2.5 to 3.8 billion VND, excluding other fees. This is an optimistic price for Bonhams but it is difficult to reach a much higher price than the starting price, for buyers from Vietnam.
Why is it difficult to be higher than the price of 1.2 million HKD?
First: Because in Vietnam, a painting of similar quality and dimension by artist Văn Bình is not rare. He painted a lot. In addition to being the main artist, he also had the support of other stages in terms of human resources from children (with the same profession).
Second: This painting is one of several versions of a famous work in Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Therefore, owning at such a price, whether starting, or higher, also shows a bit of thought. Although in fact, many lacquer and silk paintings by Vietnamese painters of the Indochina Fine Arts College have more than one; even some, are still priced high; as a screen of 4 panels ‘Nine carp in a lake’ of artist Phạm Hậu has reached more than 1 million USD. But Phạm Hậu’s paintings are always expensive, always, ranked at a different level of career value.
But… always possible – it’s all guesswork!
Vietnamese dictionary always has the word “but”; The word “but” is a conjunction for many clauses. Because there will be some opinions that now large and standard lacquer paintings of famous Indochinese painters are not available to buy. Money can be made, more and more people are rich. For painting, there are just that amount of the real one. Be wise to buy quickly, the opportunity is less and less… This seems to be more and more true.
In the context of the red stock market, falling straight below the one-thousand point mark; frozen real estate because of unreal projects; the land price is blown too high compared to the actual value, art is a high-class and sustainable cultural investment channel. Personal benefit value is at a different level from owning villas, supercars, and luxury stuff.
A few small sharings with art lovers before the painting is hammered…
Written by Viet Art View
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