Artist Duong Van Chung: The 'seeder' of colors in Viet Bac

Artist Duong Van Chung answers questions from the press at the "Five Colors" exhibition, organized by him and his friends at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in 2023.

Drawings on a rice tray

Artist Duong Van Chung was born in 1978 in Van Lang commune, a place with beautiful natural scenery. While his mother was sifting rice, young Chung would often sit beside her, using his finger to draw on the surface of the rice winnowing tray, creating whimsical lines.

One day, a hired worker from Ha Nam Ninh came to stay at Chung's house and was very surprised to see the drawings. The worker left silently but returned with a special gift: a box of crayons and a sketchbook from abroad. That gift was what launched him into the world of art.

After finishing junior high school, Chung cycled to the Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts to take the entrance exam. During his four years of study, he was considered by teachers Le Nhu Hanh, Nguyen Van Chinh, and Duong Thi Noi to be one of their most outstanding students.

Encouraged by this, Chung continued his studies at the Vietnam Fine Arts University, majoring in Fine Arts Education.

After graduating, he didn't choose Hanoi but returned to his old school. For over 20 years, he taught at the Viet Bac College of Culture and Arts, training many generations of students who have become successful professionals.

His colleagues admired him for his dedication and meticulous lifestyle. Professionals regarded him as a tireless artist, constantly exploring, innovating, and never conforming to any stereotypes.

As the head of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association branch in Thai Nguyen province, he also connects the creative community, organizes many joint exhibitions, and creates an environment that nurtures artistic energy.

"Telling stories" through simultaneous drawing.

Mentioning artist Duong Van Chung immediately brings to mind his contemporary painting style, a style he began pursuing in 2010.

The artwork "Sunshine on the Hillside" by artist Duong Van Chung.

Although he wasn't the first to use this style of painting, he was one of the few mountain artists who successfully applied it, creating a distinctive mark.

For him, simultaneity is not a random overlap, but a way of organizing visual thinking. Each layer of images has a reason for appearing and carries a stream of emotion.

Looking at his paintings, viewers feel as if they are transported through multiple moments in a single instant: children laughing, young women weaving, a deep, dark forest… All appear in the same rhythm, the same breath.

Most of his works typically use muted tones: gray, black, brown, sometimes accented with a touch of moss green or bursting with a bit of red or earthy yellow.

He once said, "People from the mountains are usually quiet and reserved. The nature of Viet Bac also possesses such beauty. I choose colors according to the temperament of the land." With just a touch of vibrant color, his paintings evoke a sense of tranquility.

It is the essence of morning dew clinging to the treetops, of the sound of the stream, of the silent forest of the war zone… Therefore, whether oil paintings or silk paintings, a common thread surrounds the works: the profound depth of memory and the rustic simplicity of mountain life.

Over twenty years of creating art, many of his works have been highly appreciated by experts, such as: "Forest Scent" - Third Prize of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (now part of the Association's collection); "Waiting", "Uncle Ho with Thai Nguyen" - First Prize, Thai Nguyen Provincial Literature and Arts Award (2017 - 2021); "Winter on the Plateau" - Encouragement Prize at the Regional Fine Arts Exhibition of Viet Bac - Tay Bac (2015); "Sunshine on the Hillside" - First Prize at the Thai Nguyen Provincial Fine Arts Competition and Exhibition in 2024.

In particular, his work "Forest of the War Zone," created in 2020, was selected by the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum for inclusion in its 2023 collection. This is also one of the important milestones in his career.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202512/hoa-si-duong-van-chungnguoi-gieo-sac-mau-viet-bac-ad0005e/