Painter Le Thiet Cuong reveals many 'side stories' about Vietnamese fine arts

The book by artist Le Thiet Cuong includes 70 articles on Vietnamese fine arts, introducing artists through the ages, from the first generation, the generation of artists studying at the Indochina College of Fine Arts, the Resistance Course, the Renovation period...

On June 3, the Writers Association Publishing House launched the book "Talking with Painting" by artist Le Thiet Cuong.

This is the second book in his series of four books, a special publication about painting, published sporadically in newspapers and magazines from 2005 to present such as: Tia Sang, Lao Dong Cuoi Tuan, Tuoi Tre, Nhan Dan Hang Nhom...

The book is over 500 pages thick, including 3 chapters with more than 70 articles on fine arts, pottery, sculpture, realistic painting, war propaganda, portrait paintings, village communal house sculptures...

Chapter I talks about Indochina Fine Arts and the Resistance Course of Principal To Ngoc Van - from the Nghiem-Lien-Sang-Phai quartet to artists Dao Duc, Luu Cong Nhan, Linh Chi, Tran Luu Hau...

A corner displaying paintings from the collection of Gallery 39. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)

Chapter II includes articles about the generation of painters following the Resistance Course such as: Ly Truc Son, Trinh Thai, Nguyen Hai, Nguyen Quoc Thai..., then the generation of Renovation painters: Do Son, Dao Hai Phong, Hoang Phuong Vy, Ha Tri Hieu, Dinh Y Nhi, Phan Phuong Dong... and Post-Renovation: Le Kinh Tai, Truong Tien Tra, Dinh Thi Tham Poong, Lap Phuong...

Chapter III is about general stories about fine arts such as propaganda paintings, war sketches, portrait paintings, erotic art - a tradition of Vietnamese art...

Each article is accompanied by paintings by the artists mentioned in the article.

The book is over 500 pages thick, including 3 chapters with more than 70 articles on fine arts, ceramics, sculpture, realistic painting...

According to the author's introduction, the book can be seen as a small portrait of the history of modern Vietnamese art because it includes artists from the first generation, the generation of artists who studied at the Indochina College of Fine Arts, followed by artists who studied at the Resistance Course, artists from the Renovation period and beyond.

“Chatting” is a simple, intimate way of speaking between colleagues, although it still includes criticism, theory, and art history. Because the writer is a painter, the conversation will include technical matters, ‘side stories’, and professional practices that writers who are not painters rarely discuss in detail.

“When writing about an author, I always point out: Through that work, what has the author contributed to the art of painting that other authors do not have, especially contributions to form, that is, the materials that make up the painting, shape, color, composition, light and dark, material, and brushwork,” said artist Le Thiet Cuong.

On this occasion, artist Le Thiet Cuong also organized an exhibition of 40 selected paintings of Vietnamese fine arts from the collection of paintings by Gallery39. This book was published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Gallery39 (2005-2025)./.

Artist Le Thiet Cuong's book series includes 4 books: "House and People" was released in August 2024, "Chatting with Painting" was released in June 2025, the 3rd book about culture "In the grain of rice there is a grain of rice" is scheduled to be published in 2026 and the 4th book is about the art of photography.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/hoa-sy-le-thiet-cuong-he-lo-nhieu-ngoai-truyen-ve-my-thuat-viet-nam-post1042165.vnp