Young artist brings the beauty of 54 ethnic groups to the world

From his passion for Vietnamese culture, young man Truong An Dan taught himself to draw and completed the series of paintings "54 Vietnamese Ethnic Groups", depicting the beauty of women in traditional costumes of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups in the style of Hang Trong paintings.

The self-study journey of a young artist who loves national culture

Truong An Dan, 26 years old, is a former student of international business at Ton Duc Thang University; he currently lives and works in the US, primarily as a nail technician to make a living. But in the mind of this young man, Vietnam, with its vibrant culture, has always been a powerful source of inspiration.

Young artist Truong An Dan and the process of diligent self-study.

“I love architecture, history, geography, and especially ethnic culture. I always wondered: What would a map of Vietnam look like if it were made up of 54 ethnic groups?” This question became the motivation for Truong An Dan to create the “54 Vietnamese Ethnic Groups” series in 2024. He started with the Hoa ethnic group on March 12th and completed the final painting – the Xtieng ethnic group – on May 8th, exactly two months of diligent work.

Kinh People - 1 work in the series 54 Viet Ethnic Groups.

Choosing the Hang Trong painting style – a Vietnamese folk painting style notable for its softness and gentleness – An Dan depicts women in traditional attire in a stylized yet recognizable way. The figures in the paintings have round, benevolent faces, dreamy eyes, and expressions reminiscent of matriarchal culture – one of the characteristic elements frequently explored in Hang Trong paintings.

Khmer - 1 work in the series 54 Viet Ethnic Groups.

"This style helps me express the gentle and graceful beauty of Vietnamese women. I don't paint realistic portraits but choose a stylized approach, like creating a representative profile picture for each ethnic group," An Dan shared.

The story of painting connecting the world and Vietnamese identity

What's remarkable is that the entire project was undertaken by Truong An Dan under… self-taught conditions. He never attended any formal art school; all his painting skills were self-taught in the evenings after working at a nail salon. Reading materials, searching for photographic documentation, and meticulously researching the costumes – from brocade patterns to hat styles – sometimes took up an entire day.

The image of a woman in traditional costume is depicted in the style of Hang Trong paintings.

"Each drawing is not only a work of art but also a learning process about fashion , customs, and the identity of each ethnic group," An Dan explained.

When posted on social media, the "54 Ethnic Groups of Vietnam" project quickly spread and received thousands of shares. Many young people learned for the first time about the names or traditional clothing of ethnic minorities, expressing admiration for the love of their national culture that these young people possess. Thanks to the spread of this cultural beauty, the "54 Ethnic Groups of Vietnam" project was featured in the "Vietnam Day Abroad" event, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brazil.

The series of paintings was selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as the main image at the Vietnam Exhibition Hall - World Exhibition EXPO Osaka 2025.

Notably, the series of paintings was selected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as the main image for the Vietnam Pavilion at the EXPO Osaka 2025 World Exhibition. This event, held in Japan, is considered one of the world's largest exhibitions on technology, innovation, and culture, with participation from over 150 countries.

The Vietnam Exhibition House is designed with a strong sense of national identity, themed "Nurturing the Future Together," offering a unique cultural experience and national traditions in a modern form. Here, the paintings depicting the "54 Ethnic Groups of Vietnam" stand out as a visual highlight, making a strong impression on international visitors.

Images of 54 ethnic groups attract the attention and love of many young people and international tourists.

Ms. Toshiko Nakano, a member of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly (Japan), said after visiting the Vietnam Pavilion: “My impression of the Vietnam exhibition is the strong friendship between the two countries. The paintings depicting ethnic groups and traditional art create a sense of closeness, very similar to the cultural spirit of Japan.”

Brad, a tourist from the United States, shared: “I am truly impressed with the paintings depicting the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. Each painting has its own unique colors and characteristics. It showcases a very beautiful, vibrant, and diverse Vietnamese culture.”

Image of Muong women in 54 Viet ethnic groups.

Instead of following trends, Truong An Dan seeks out what is truly traditional: traditional clothing, headscarves, necklaces, earrings, brocade fabrics… All of these are recreated by him using a familiar, simple, and deeply nationalistic artistic language.

"Viet in Vietnam, ethnic group in nation. That's what I want to convey. Vietnam is very beautiful, each ethnic group has its own unique characteristics, from clothing styles to colors, and this deserves to be spread throughout the world," An Dan said.

The work The Scent of Northern Medicine, filled with memories of traditional medicine shops in District 5, is one of Truong An Dan's latest works.

With his follow-up project titled "Vietnamese Colors," Truong An Dan hopes to continue promoting the beauty of Vietnam through modern illustration art, contributing to bringing the image of the nation closer to international friends.

In a foreign land, late into the evenings after work, An Dan still diligently works with her paintbrush and palette. "I consider nail art my job, but painting my career," An Dan says. In this journey, she is not only an artist but also a storyteller, telling the story of Vietnam through her loving brushstrokes.

According to Huong Tran (baotintuc)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/chang-hoa-si-tre-mang-ve-dep-54-dan-toc-ra-the-gioi-post329051.html