The work Temporary Attachment (acid, lacquer on aluminum alloy) helped Cao Van Thuc win the highest prize at the UOB POY 2025 competition in Vietnam (for the field of painting with the highest award in the country at present). In the work, he depicts a group of workers crowded on the back of a rudimentary truck.
The gestures of hugging and clinging to each other express both protection, connection and fragility in a foreign land. The shape of the group forms a square in the center, but one corner is missing, a metaphor for the precarious and imperfect life in the journey to make a living. The work's persuasiveness comes from its emotional depth, technical creativity and strong social message.
Artist Dang Xuan Hoa, Head of the UOB POY 2025 Jury (Vietnam), commented: “Cao Van Thuc’s Temporary Attachment offers a direct and sympathetic perspective on the lives of migrant workers, recognizing their unsung contributions to the country’s rapid development. The use of contemporary techniques, combining metal surfaces with graphic methods, creates a strong contrast of shapes, colors and tones. This increases the emotional effect and reinforces the message of the work. It is not surprising that a young artist like Cao Van Thuc became the top winner. He represents a new generation of artists in Vietnam - energetic, creative and with a bold, honest view of life. They have real artistic ability, and I believe they will open a new era, a meaningful continuation of Vietnamese contemporary art.”
Cao Van Thuc graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts in 2020. His paintings are rich in humanity, especially empathy for workers. Cao Van Thuc tends to simple and emotional images, like a quiet but persistent voice about life. For him, painting is both a reflection of himself before the world and a deep dialogue between the inner self and the outside world. It is also a journey for him to discover himself to realize that he is always moving and changing.
He shared: “I want to express the quiet beauty and enduring strength of migrant workers with deep respect through Temporary Connection. The painting is also a reminder of the social gaps that still exist in urban life, especially for those from remote areas who come to the city to make a living. The lack of community connection can easily lead to a feeling of isolation and social stratification. I hope this work can inspire people to reflect and contribute to narrowing those gaps, towards a harmoniously developed city, based on understanding, tolerance and empathy.”
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hoa-si-cao-van-thuc-hoi-hoa-doi-thoai-giua-noi-tam-va-ngoai-canh-post822544.html
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