Commemorating 90 years from the year of birth of painter Trần Hữu Chất (1933-2023)
Painter Trần Hữu Chất (1933-2018)
FROM THE IMAGE OF BIRDS OF VIỆT NAM
On August 20, 2023 at Hà Nội Opera House, there will be a show to celebrate the 100th birthday of musician Văn Cao (1923-2023) with the title ‘Birds of Việt Nam’.
According to information from the press, immortal songs composed by musician Văn Cao such as: ‘Wonderworld’, ‘Autumn ending’, ‘Trương Chi’, ‘My village’, ‘First spring’, ‘The river of Lô song’, ‘The marching song’, ‘Move forward to Hà Nội’, ‘Soldier of Việt Nam’… will be presented to the public.
The image in the press conference to introduce the show ‘Birds of Việt Nam’ – the birds flying towards the red flag with yellow star made Viet Art View suddenly remember a work of artist Trần Hữu Chất (Hồng Chinh Hiền, 1933-2018), a lot of bird wings bearing historical themes with national symbolism and high generalization.
WAS THE PAINTING COMMISSIONED?
At first glance, we may wonder, when artist Trần Hữu Chất created this painting, he was commissioned to, or was he inspired by the stork wing, a traditional symbol in ca dao [old folk songs and poems of Việt Nam], deeply ingrained in the subconscious of Vietnamese culture.
Artwork: Festival day of the country, Date: 2002, Medium: Oil, Dimensions: 150×150 cm
Turning over the history of logo changes of Việt Nam National Airlines, from the firm’s founding in 1993 to 2002, it used the logo ‘stork with the moon’; logo ‘golden lotus’ since 2002; In 2015, the logo is still the ‘golden lotus’, but the color font, the ratio of Việt Nam Arline letters and the proportion of lotus have been changed to be harmonious, balanced and prominent.
This painting was created by artist Trần Hữu Chất in 2004, so it is almost unlikely that this is a commissioned painting. But being commissioned is only a reason to show the artist’s story, because the artistic value lies on the face of the painting itself.
THE BASICS OF TRẦN HỮU CHẤT PAINTING
Painter Trần Hữu Chất graduated from Việt Nam College of Fine Arts – class of Tô Ngọc Vân (1955-1957), graduated from a regular university (1962-1967), studied at Jiangxi Institute of Ceramics Jingdezhen, China (for two years). And finally he studied for a year at the Clermont Ferrand Academy, France.
Painter Trần Hữu Chất specialized in lacquer and lacquer engraving. His large lacquer engraving works in the theme of ethnic culture, festivals in different regions of the country with a lot of characters (with hundreds for some painting) are the main themes and throughout the process. His meticulous, detailed, delicate and skillful engraving on the wood make the viewer admire and be amazed.
His lacquer engraving works are preserved in museums and private collections.
In addition, he also used the oil medium, although it is less, but the individuality is more absolute because it is sure that he expressed and perform alone.
MESSAGE IN THE PAINTING ‘FESTIVAL DAY OF THE COUNTRY’
The painting ‘Festival day of the country’, oil on canvas, dimensions 150×150 cm, was created in 2004 with the focus on the symbol of the plane, the logo ‘stork with the moon’ in the center. And at the top, in the middle of the vast green mountains, is certainly the indomitable symbol of Điện Biên Phủ campaign with the monument of Điện Biên Phủ victory by sculptor Nguyễn Hải (1933-2012). Besides, the red flag with yellow star flutters on the roof of the De Castries bunker.
At this point, part of the painting’s story and message is clearly explained. The year of 2004 ‘Celebrating 50 years the victory of Điện Biên Phủ in the air’.
Thus, the image of a white plane with ‘moon and stork wings’ and white storks flying above beautiful golden clouds covered the blue sky with many characters of Vietnamese ethnic groups, including soldiers, wounded soldiers, and foreigners (seem to be traveling)… giving viewers a feeling of joy and excitement on the festival day.
There are many strong personalities, when looking at paintings with ‘realistic, gentle’ visual language like ‘Festival day of the country’ may think that ‘theme, visual language, manner and style’ has nothing special, groundbreaking, is it worth a close look? Reality or innovation is creativity, it depends on the content that conveys.
In fact, it is the story value of the work that makes its life lasting. The deeper the message, the stronger the emotional impression. Painter Trần Hữu Chất used the logo image ‘moon and white storks’ as a guide for the storks to rhythmically flap their wings to fly in groups as a message of the nation, peace, unity, victory, happiness.
The shaping details are delicately and harmoniously integrated. There are also the shaping in old culture of the nation such as the cloud pattern taken from the ancient art motif in the communal houses, pagodas, and steles…
That is a symbolic image in traditional culture, throughout the culture history of the nation.
And with Viet Art View, this is a painting with a lot of historical significance, clear message and tells a story about a heroic and humane nation.
Written by Viet Art View
Copyrights belong to Viet Art View
