According to the book “Urban Fine Arts of Sài Gòn-Gia Định 1900-1975” written by Uyên Huy, “Artist Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh was born in 1937 in the old Chợ Lớn (Đức Hòa, Long An today). He studied and graduated from Saigon National College of Fine Arts, course I (1955-1960), in the same class as Nguyễn Văn Thương, Trương Văn Ý, Lưu Tấn Phước, Đỗ Thị Tố Phượng…
Portrait of artist Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh (born 1937)
After graduating from school, he taught fine arts in Cần Thơ. In mid-1963, he was called up to join the Saigon army. Demobilized in 1968, teaching at Biên Hòa Fine Arts School until 1973. From 1973 to early 1975, he taught and worked as an assistant to the Director of Saigon National College of Fine Arts.
The yard of Saigon National College of Fine Arts
According to the documents of researcher Phạm Công Luận, artist Hoàng Hoanh won the first prize in the Art and Literature competition of the President of the Republic of Vietnam in 1970 with the silk work “Uprising”. The second prize was the painting “One day past” by artist Đỗ Quang Em and the third prize was the painting “Division” by artist Trương Đình Hải.
The modern silk painting in Vietnam is still very young. Only about 100 years since the establishment of the Indochina Fine Arts College (1925). Before that, due to Vietnam’s hot and humid climate, the legacy of silk paintings of the old artisans was not much. Only the portrait of Nguyễn Trãi, the portrait of Phùng Khắc Khoan and some worship paintings can be mentioned. Since the silk paintings of Nguyễn Phan Chánh, 1930 with dark brown color. The shaping of the characters are carefully selected, not redundant or lacking. Shapes and arrays have the sound of rhythm. Soaked in the spirit of East Asia, Vietnamese essence in Nguyễn Phan Chánh’s paintings.
Silk paintings are especially suitable for exact composition, large characters, and few decorations on the background. Therefore, the tendency to build and depict typical characters was often shown by previous artists. Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh’s forte is working in silk. His silk painting teacher at Gia Định Fine Arts College was a painter Đới Ngoạn Quân (1913 – ?). In the 1970s, Saigon had four factions in Chợ Lớn: Lĩnh Nam Lương Thiếu Hằng; Kinh phái Đới Ngoạn Quân, Tả Bạch Đào; Hỗ phái Hà Lãng Hùng; Tây họa Sài Đinh.
Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh made a mark in painting with subjects of motherhood, young women, children, daily life, and landscapes of his hometown. His silk paintings are always soft, gentle, beautifully shaped, the framework is quite diverse, but most of the paintings are large in dimension. Especially motherhood is the most successful subject. The artist said that he created the painting “Mother and child” in the 90s, but does not remember exactly the year. After 30 years, when he was able to look at the painting again (even though it was only through photos), he was still very moved.
Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh (born 1937) ‘Mother and child’ 1990. Silk. 60×80 cm
In the painting “Mother and child”, he skillfully used the basic rules of silk painting on fine image distillation, delicate realistic brushwork; typical character. The characters are always in a static state. With great artists, they will use the language of colors, strokes, and arrays to make the painting harmonious with beautiful lines, expressive features, the content of the story the artist wants to convey will become profound.
In this painting, artist Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh aims to build the main characters including a mother and her little child in a peaceful, happy setting. Before our eyes appeared an elegant, peaceful scene. The young mother is very beautiful, full of purity, gentle, tender, even innocent, with affectionate arms very gently hold the little child resting his head sleeping on her shoulder… An indescribable tearful feeling about a mother’s love that is so immense and warm… has made viewers unable to take their eyes off. Time seems to stand still on a cool afternoon, with a gentle breeze, a mother sitting on the porch, under the green foliage… lulling her child to sleep afternoons.
Basically, most of Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh’s painting works stop at the level of elegant and simple enjoyment. Some paintings with historical subjects that he built in the 70s of the last century just enough to make a name for Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh’s career, contribute an artistic voice to Southern Fine Arts…
Typical regional details emerge from the mother’s “bà ba” [kind of loose fitting blouse] dress. A few branches of wax apple leaves (typical of southern fruits) in the background decoration exude a very Southern atmosphere. The painting is full of light, while the colors do not depict the light at all. It is the gentle colors and lively rhythms that give viewers a sense of space and light.
Họa sĩ Nguyễn Hoàng Hoanh và bức tranh lụa vẽ chân dung cha ruột của Nhà nghiên cứu Phạm Công Luận
Artist Hoàng Hoanh is 85 years old now. He currently lives in Saigon and still paint when his health allows. Age does not make the colors of the paintings become quiet, but on the contrary, more bright and cheerful… It is the second childhood that human return to when they are old…
By Viet Art View
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