Having been closely associated with the military since the beginning of his artistic career, he used his brush to capture authentic moments of war, depicting the lives of soldiers and celebrating the beauty of the Vietnamese people during crucial periods of history. With his unique, deeply nationalistic artistic style, both relatable and profound, painter Pham Luc has left a lasting impression on art lovers.
The source of talent
Born in his paternal hometown, the culturally rich ancient capital of Hue, Pham Luc spent his entire childhood in his maternal hometown of Tien Dien, Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh . His father, Pham Khac Hieu, was a high-ranking official in the Nguyen dynasty. Before the August Revolution of 1945, he was appointed District Chief of Nghi Xuan. It was in this land that he married a local woman, and Pham Luc is their third son.
From a young age, Pham Luc showed a talent for painting. He was so passionate about drawing that he would doodle anywhere he could get his hands on – the ground, the floor, the walls of his house, even the walls of his neighbor's house. His childlike drawings delighted many people, with some even coming to his house just to watch him paint. Thanks to his skillful drawing, Pham Luc became a special student in the eyes of his teachers. After graduating from high school, in 1959 he passed the entrance exam to the Hanoi College of Fine Arts. Graduating as valedictorian in 1962, ten years later, in 1972, he continued his studies at the Hanoi University of Fine Arts (now the Vietnam University of Fine Arts) and graduated in 1977.
Artist Pham Luc emotionally recalled his childhood days in his mother's hometown: "According to the elders, I couldn't speak until I was three years old, but I loved to wander around in places with sand and dirt to draw... Perhaps my passion for painting was kindled very early on. Thirty-five years in the military helped me hone my ability to draw on many different materials, from paper and burlap sacks to anything that could be drawn on. I now have countless paintings. Perhaps that's why most people only know me as an artist; few know that my mother, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Chuong, is actually the great-great-granddaughter of the ancestor Nguyen Du. In fact, I am his great-great-granddaughter."
When artists are also soldiers
Having served in the military for many years, artist Pham Luc left his mark on numerous historical sites associated with the most brutal moments of the war, such as Ham Rong Bridge, the 17th parallel, the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and even a field trip to Saigon immediately after its liberation in 1975. Directly witnessing and experiencing the harsh realities of the battlefield inspired Pham Luc to create many works on the theme of war.
During his time in the military, having served in various war zones and facing material shortages, Pham Luc creatively painted on burlap sacks, using materials such as colored chalk, lime powder, and even toothpaste to create white. These works not only realistically reflect the life and struggles of soldiers but also demonstrate his creativity and resilience.
Pham Luc's paintings of soldiers deeply reflect his personal experiences during the war years. The daily lives of soldiers and female militia members are depicted simply and modestly through works such as "Bathing Together," "Reading Letters from Home," "Sleeping Soundly After a Duty," "Female Militia Members Harvesting Rice," "Offering Water to Soldiers," etc. Besides that, he devoted much effort to recreating fierce battles and important campaigns through powerful and dramatic paintings: "The Battle of Ham Rong," "Soldiers Crossing the Truong Son Mountains," "Liberating Saigon," "The Warrior's Mother," etc. Another theme he successfully portrayed was camaraderie and the spiritual life of soldiers through a series of emotionally charged paintings such as "Quan Ho Comes to Truong Son," "Combing a Comrade's Hair," "Peaceful Sleep," etc. In particular, Pham Luc did not shy away from the dark side of war, but confronted and deeply depicted the pain and loss through works rich in humanistic values such as "Brother, Don't Die!", "Husband's Memorial Day," "Two Wounded Soldiers," "Seeing My Husband Off to Battle," etc., as a quiet reminder. but I am deeply troubled by the sacred value of peace.
Artist Pham Luc was discharged from the army with the rank of Colonel. His time serving as a military artist provided him with endless inspiration and helped him develop a distinctive artistic style, contributing to Pham Luc's fame in the Vietnamese art scene.
"The national artist"
Artist Pham Luc is affectionately and respectfully called the "national artist" by many art lovers because of his talent, character, and widespread influence. Pham Luc is not simply an artist; he is a storyteller of Vietnamese national history through painting. From images of soldiers in the great national resistance war to hardworking mothers, simple country folk, and everyday moments, all are depicted by him with emotionally charged and authentic brushstrokes.
It is precisely the richness of color and mood, while always highlighting the beauty of any subject, that makes Pham Luc's paintings so attractive to art lovers and collectors. Not only famous for his paintings on military themes and wartime, Pham Luc's works are sought after by art lovers in all the subjects he touches upon: Vietnamese cultural traditions, Hanoi landscapes, still life and landscapes, the beauty of women, the beauty of laborers, nudes, social issues... Some typical works include "Procession of the Holy Mother of the Mountains," "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival," "Mock Battle," "Beloved Village," "Southern Countryside," "Riverside Fish Market," "Fishing Village," "Old Quarter in Spring," "Cyclo on a Rainy Day," "Romantic Hanoi," "Hanoi in Autumn," "Miss Lan," "The Hardworking Mother," "Waiting for Her Child to Return," "Breastfeeding," "Carrying a Child While Plowing," "Feeding a Grandchild," "Following Mother," "Young Woman Bathing at the Pond"...
Despite being a renowned artist, Pham Luc lives a very humble and approachable life. He once said, "I paint for the people to see, not just for art critics." What's special is that he can paint anywhere, on any subject, and on any material, from burlap sacks, old newspapers, scraps of paper, to oil paints, pigments, lacquer, silk... and he gives his paintings to people as a way of showing his gratitude. He considers himself "cursed by fate," having to paint every day; if he doesn't paint, he'll get sick. On average, he can paint 10 pictures a day, and on particularly inspired days, he might paint even more.
Pham Luc not only painted with masterful technique but also with emotion and patriotism. With a free and spontaneous spirit, painting for him was about capturing sudden emotions that surged in him during a state of inspiration.
Even at the age of 80, he still painted every day, still pondering over each brushstroke as if it were his first time painting, only accepting rest when he became so seriously ill that he could no longer move. This burning love and perseverance made him a living symbol of boundless passion.
Artist Pham Luc is affectionately called the "Van Gogh and Picasso of Vietnam" for his hard work and passionate pursuit of creativity. He is the only Vietnamese artist with an official fan club boasting over 100 members both domestically and internationally, who currently own the majority of his collection of over 6,000 works. One of the most passionate collectors of Pham Luc's paintings is perhaps Dr. Nguyen Si Dung, former Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office. His collection of Pham Luc's paintings comprises over 1,000 pieces. Dr. Nguyen Si Dung has authored a 230-page book, "The Brush in God's Hand," about the life and artistic career of artist Pham Luc.
From April 18th to 24th, 2025, at Aqua Art, 44 Yen Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, the Ngoc Ha Art Collectors Club, in collaboration with collector Nguyen Si Dung, will organize an exhibition of works by painter Pham Luc and launch the book "The Brush in God's Hand".
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/hoa-si-pham-luc-cay-co-duoc-chua-cam-tay-699400.html
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