Four marriages of 86-year-old artist

Chinese painter Pham Tang got married for the fourth time at the age of 86. Before that, he had an affair with his best friend's wife.

On April 10, the artist revealed that he had registered his marriage with a woman named Tu Manh. The two were soulmates and wanted to be together for life. Pham Tang said that after his ex-wife, Truong Que Van, passed away in 2021, he suffered a mild stroke and could no longer continue his work. Thanks to Tu Manh's attentive care, Pham Tang recovered both physically and mentally. She also motivated him to return to painting and calligraphy.

Pham Tang and his fourth wife. Photo: Ifeng

According to Ifeng , Pham Tang was successful in his career but his private life was controversial, and he was criticized by many people for his "immoral" relationships. The artist's first wife was Lam Tu - a rich, straightforward girl. Their love affair was admired by many people, but when they got married, they often argued and divorced after 5 years of living together.

In 1971, Pham Tang remarried with Bien Bao Hoa - who was his classmate. When they were still in the same school, Bien Bao Hoa admired Pham Tang's talent and secretly loved him but did not dare to confess because at that time the artist loved Lam Tu. After Pham Tang and Lam Tu got married, Bien Bao Hoa also married someone else, she divorced because her husband had an affair. Knowing that Pham Tang's marriage was also broken, Bien Bao Hoa took the initiative to express her feelings to Pham Tang, developing their feelings. The couple has a daughter.

The beauty of Truong Que Van when she was young. Photo: Ifeng

In the 1970s, Pham Tang's career was not yet flourishing, he was cared for and helped financially by his friend Tu Ton Duc. One time, Tu Ton Duc invited Pham Tang to his house for dinner, the artist fell in love with his friend's wife - Truong Que Van.

According to Ifeng , in his autobiography, the artist admitted to being moved by the beauty of Que Van - then a mother of three. He wrote: "She wore a white dress, two black braids, simple but extremely elegant." That meeting changed the lives of many people.

Pham Tang and Truong Que Van secretly dated for more than 10 years. Every time Tu Ton Duc was away from home, Pham Tang would go see his lover. Afraid of being discovered if he took the elevator, he climbed the 14 floors to Tu Ton Duc and Truong Que Van's apartment building.

On one hand, he secretly met Truong Que Van, on the other hand, Pham Tang was still Tu Ton Duc's friend. In 1977, he fell ill and had to be hospitalized. Tu Ton Duc and Truong Que Van visited him every week. The artist wrote in his autobiography: "Every time Que Van went to the hospital, I felt better. She awakened spring in my heart."

In 1988, Que Van admitted to her husband that she loved Pham Tang. Tu Ton Duc agreed to divorce and moved from Beijing to Shanghai. At that time, Tu Ton Duc and Truong Que Van's three children were all grown up.

Painter Pham Tang. Photo: Ifeng

Five years later, Pham Tang completed the divorce proceedings with Bien Bao Hoa. The artist's daughter was angry with her father and announced that they were severing their relationship. Some time later, Pham Tang married Truong Que Van and changed her name to Nam Loi, meaning the start of a new life. He once told an interviewer: "I love the country and I love beautiful women. I hope to live my whole life with Nam Loi - my lover for over 20 years."

Tu Ton Duc once criticized Pham Tang for "repaying kindness with hatred, seducing other people's wives". Because of love, Pham Tang was criticized by many people for his "low character". In a letter to Nam Loi (before marriage), he wrote: "I love you, a thousand-year-old saying that is still new, some people use it easily, some people sacrifice their lives, sacrifice everything for it. For Nam Loi, what do I lose? I lose reputation, position, money. What do I gain? Nam Loi". The painter said that the love between him and Nam Loi can only be described with one word: "Sincere".

"Letter under the pine tree" by Pham Tang. Photo: Sotheby's

After his third marriage, Pham Tang was no longer involved in any love scandals. Mrs. Nam Loi passed away in 2021. The artist said he was depressed and lost the motivation to live after his wife passed away, until Tu Manh appeared, making him more excited.

He is a big name in the Chinese contemporary art scene, known as a "master" in the fields of calligraphy and painting. He has held positions such as vice president of the China Fine Arts Association and vice president of the Chinese Calligraphers Association.

His works are displayed in foreign museums such as Japan and England. Many of his paintings have achieved high prices on the auction market. Among them, Truc Thuoc reached over 40 million yuan (5.1 million USD), Linh Tuyen Dao Phong reached 18.4 million yuan (2.5 million USD). Dozens of his other paintings are priced at over one million USD.

Nhu Anh (according to Ifeng )

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