Monday, November 28, 2022 at Aguttes Auction House, France will auction the lacquer painting ‘Family of breeders’, created in 1986, 3 panels – 61×183 cm, 61×60.5 cm each. According to information from Aguttes, the painting is owned by Madam Nguyễn Nga.
NGUYỄN KHANG (1911-1989). Family of breeders. 1986. Lacquer, 3 panels; 61×60.5 cm – 61×61 cm – 61×61.5 cm. Total 61×183 cm.
In the art world of Vietnam, Madam Nguyễn Nga is not a stranger. She is one of the rare overseas Vietnamese who, after living and working abroad, returns to her homeland with the desire to contribute a little bit to the art of her homeland. Her name is associated with ‘Maison des Arts – Ngôi nhà Nghệ thuật’ at 31, Văn Miếu street, Hanoi.
The writer of this article, ten years ago, also met several times with painter Nguyễn Nga right at the Maison des Arts, listening to her passionate talking about her Art plans in Hanoi. In particular, the project ‘Long Biên Bridge’ is considered as the focus of her projects…
Today, we see Madam Nguyễn Nga – as the owner of the lacquer painting ‘Family of breeders’ by artist Nguyễn Khang, appears in the video with Ms. Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier – the Art director of Aguttes, we think this is entirely possible because Ms. Nguyễn Nga has been attached to and deeply immersed in Vietnamese art for a relatively long time…
Return to the painting ‘Family of breeders’, Viet Art View contacted artist Nguyễn Thái Dũng, the son of painter Nguyễn Khang. He said that his father – painter Nguyễn Khang has created more than one version of the painting. Currently, the family still has a painting ‘Family of breeders’, lacquer, 2 panels, dated 1982, total size 92×220 cm.
NGUYỄN KHANG (1911-1989) – Family of breeders. 1982. Lacquer, lacquer engraving, emboss. 92×220 cm. Collection of the artist’s family. Photo provided by painter Nguyễn Thái Dũng, son of painter Nguyễn Khang.
The painting ‘Family of breeders’ owned by Mrs. Nguyễn Nga, about to auction at Aguttes has the size 61×183 cm, dated 1986, possibly a composition by order of Xunhasaba (The Import-Export Book Company) at that time. Because when it comes to the name of Mrs. Nguyễn Nga, who bought his father’s painting, artist Nguyễn Thái Dũng said, as far as he remembers, there has been no such exchange. But the lacquer painting ‘Family of breeders’ (he looks at the photo from the auction house posted on the website) about to auction in Aguttes (most likely – verbatim) is his father’s.
He added that in the late 80s and early 90s, when working in Saigon, he had seen in the store of a famous lacquer company at that time- Lam Sơn, sold paintings (small paintings) that were approximate 100% imitation of his father’s painting ‘Family of breeders’. He was very angry and asked them to take the paintings down. In fact, how many they sold, he couldn’t tell. But he added, looking at the fake paintings, they were very poor in shape and style, and could be recognized immediately.
Viet Art View also found on Wikipedia a painting ‘Family of breeders’, lacquer, 3 panels, with information of date 1985. We don’t know if this information is accurate but through the style, shapes, lines and subtle expression, this could be a genuine painting by artist Nguyễn Khang. The provenance information also adds that this is the work of painter Nguyễn Khang – Nguyễn Kim Điệp. Painter Nguyễn Kim Điệp (deceased) is the biological daughter of painter Nguyễn Khang.
Painting from Wikipedia by Nguyễn Khang and Nguyễn Kim Điệp.
Thus, at least, Viet Art View now sees three versions of the painting ‘Family of breeders’. The largest painting still belongs to the family of the artist. Who knows, maybe there is another version that Mr. Nguyễn Thái Dũng doesn’t know all about, because he also has (relatively) been on business trips and lives far away from his family.
The painting ‘Family of breeders’ is about to auction at Aguttes, but we don’t see the estimated price. This could be seen that the auction house expecting an unexpected high price for this painting. Meanwhile, another painting that is also attracting the attention of collectors in the session is ‘L’ illumination de Bouddha’, silk, 1947 by Lê Phổ, predicted to explode in price has also been estimated from 200-300k EUR.
In fact, the lacquer painting ‘Family of breeders’ is a beautiful painting, very beautiful in all respects, worth collecting of Nguyễn Khang. Even if the painting has more than one version, the auction price will be high for sure. Despite the current time, the global economy is in recession, inflation is high and Vietnam is also in common difficulties… but the painting can still reach a high milestone, ideally around 1 million EUR…
… If it is as expected, painter Nguyễn Khang will enter the history along with a group worth millions of dollars such as Lê Phổ, Mai Trung Thứ, Phạm Hậu, Lê Quốc Lộc… of Vietnamese painting.
This is very precious. Vietnamese painting will be increasingly enhanced. And no one can elevate Vietnamese art, except the Vietnamese themselves…
P/S: Each picture, if it is too different in color, may be due to shooting equipment.
By Viet Art View
Copyrights belong to Viet Art View
