Artist who paints benevolent faces - doing charity work.

Not only the people of Hoi An, but arguably many places throughout the country, and even foreign tourists, know about the artist Bui Quy Phong - the creator of unique and distinctive face paintings. Besides painting benevolent faces, he is also actively involved in charity work with many practical programs to help the poor and those in need.

"The Mask of Time" bears a benevolent face.

Mr. Phong started painting 40 years ago, making lion heads and the face of the Earth God. Thanks to his skillful technique and expressive brushstrokes, every year as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, customers in Quang Nam province compete to place orders with him. More than 10 years ago, he started painting masks, taking on apprentices to help him and teaching them how to prepare paper and use brushes…

As agreed, I arrived at 14 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An. He began the conversation by saying, "From toy masks, I've transformed them into artistic Vietnamese masks, elevating their value. Someone asked me, 'Why don't you cut out the eyes?' I paint the eyes on them, because if I did, you'd wear them... like toys. You'd get tired of them and throw them away. But artistic masks can be hung up as souvenirs. Each mask, the buyer takes home, as a blessing from the 'mask of time'." Perhaps that's why, even at 300,000 VND each, customers are still willing to buy them.

The author (left) and artisan Bui Quy Phong. PHOTO: LE Kim Dung

Mask of Time - honoring traditional Vietnamese cultural values. PHOTO: LE KIM DUNG

Artisan Bui Quy Phong and his colleagues were certified by the Vietnam Record Organization for the largest Vietnamese traditional opera mask made from Do paper. PHOTO: LE KIM DUNG

"These masks don't bring in much profit. But why do I still maintain this? Because it's Vietnamese culture. I paint them in the style of Vietnamese culture and honor my ancestors. Vietnamese masks only use five colors: red, white, black, yellow (the color of temples), and green. Artistic masks convey goodness. Evil is already prevalent in the world. When you enter my space, please come to goodness," Mr. Phong enthusiastically explained in his own way.

In 2023, the "Footprint of Our Ancestors" mask made of do paper, measuring 3.5 meters in height and 2.65 meters in width, created by Mr. Phong and his colleagues in collaboration with VinWonders Nam Hoi An, was awarded the record for "Largest mask made of do paper in Vietnam" by the Vietnam Record Organization.

Feeling motivated

According to artist Bui Quy Phong, the transition from painting masks with benevolent faces to doing good deeds is a seamless and harmonious combination. He follows a style of painting benevolent masks, and it is this style that brings him peace of mind, guides him towards goodness, and allows him to calmly engage in charitable work within the community.

From 1980 to the early 1990s, he built a shelter for over 20 children with special circumstances, such as those who were abandoned, deaf and mute, had mild mental illnesses, or whose parents were in prison. He provided them with food, shelter, and vocational training while paying them a salary. If any of them wished to leave the "shelter" when they grew up, he would help them start their own businesses making lion dance heads and masks, and introduce them to three business partners to "connect" with buyers. Thanks to this stable profession, many of them have built stable lives and started families.

Tourists experience face painting. PHOTO: LE KIM DUNG

"Initially, I had no intention. When the 2019 pandemic raged, all aspects of life came to a standstill. I felt anxious. It wouldn't be right to stand aside and be indifferent while people were suffering. In Hoi An, I could call on everyone to join hands. So I posted my first Facebook appeal…," Mr. Phong shared. From then on, generous hearts were awakened. People from Hoi An, both domestically and abroad, responded and sent donations. On average, he transported about 5 tons of rice daily to distribute to people in the affected areas. Even when he stopped, some people still contacted him wanting to send a few thousand USD, but he refused. Some pleaded with him to keep it and use it to support the people later, but he said they should send it when he posted a Facebook appeal…

"I don't touch the money. Someone sends money to buy a ton of rice, and I just act as a rice distributor for them to transfer the money. Approaching 70, I'm increasingly... drawn into charitable activities. Sometimes, when I'm running a charity program and I'm short on funds, I wonder if I should even try to raise money? I think anyone who cares about the poor should come to me and share with me. I don't ask for donations of money or goods. If I'm not ready, I'll do it myself, using my own money. Actually, it makes things difficult for me. That is, I want to do it properly and well, but my resources aren't there yet. However, sometimes hearing my students say things like, 'Every time you come back from a charity event, your face lights up,' is very motivating." "Customers keep coming to buy my products continuously. After each event, money comes in to help me make ends meet. For example, recently, a group just came to watch my students and I paint, and they gave me 5 million dong, as a way to support my charity work. Every time they take photos of my artwork, customers leave 1.5 million dong. Sometimes, five events a month bring in 9 million dong. These sources of income help a lot," he confided.

Charitable activities

On the first day of the Lunar New Year in 2023, he donated a total of 5.8 tons of rice and 580 bottles of fish sauce to poor people in Hoi An. Following that, he organized an art program at the Quang Nam Social Welfare Center, raising 27 million VND; and in the mountainous district of Tay Giang, he helped the people in Tr'hy commune with 90 million VND from his personal funds. He also organized a Spring Festival in Hoi An from the 1st to the 11th of the lunar month with bingo, folk games, etc., with the support of several singers. The money raised was shared with the community. He doesn't have any funds. "Some days I receive many messages asking for help. If you don't have money, I ask you to wait a little while; if you do, I help immediately. Some people need a bag of rice or call in the middle of the night because their child needs to be hospitalized and they don't have enough money... I rush to help. There are many difficult cases!" he recounted.

Once, a Vietnamese expatriate in the US offered to send $12,000, asking him to help cook rice noodles and other noodle dishes on the 15th and 1st of the lunar month at two locations: Hoi An, her hometown, and Dien Ban, her husband's hometown. He hesitated, fearing he wouldn't be able to manage it. What if people became greedy, stole a portion from the poor, or failed to ensure food safety and hygiene? Who would be responsible? Therefore, he refused.

Mr. Phong and his friends prepare to visit and give gifts to people in need. PHOTO: LE KIM DUNG

Artisan Bui Quy Phong with gifts donated to help those in need. PHOTO: LE Kim Dung

Feeling a void when he wasn't doing charity work, he divided his efforts into practical programs throughout the year. The "Extended Spring" program reached impoverished areas, bringing love to the people, like in Tay Giang recently. This included donating new clothes, rice, MSG, money, and organizing various activities for children to enjoy… He donated several tons of used but still usable clothing to ethnic minority communities… Next was the "Summer Program," where parents donated old books after buying new ones, notebooks, and clothes (washed and ironed) for him to give to poor students. The "New School Year Program" provided new clothes, new books, new bicycles, and money, with 60 bicycles and 6 sets of textbooks for each school to give to poor students. The "Winter Coat" program involved friends in Hanoi sending in new warm clothes, and he traveled back and forth to distribute them.

Connecting hearts

In Quang Nam province, there are many charitable groups. For example, Dai Loc district has the Suong Nguyen group (Green Valley charity group), Pham Linh; Dien Ban town has Le Hau; Duy Xuyen district has Pham Manh… Mr. Phong always wholeheartedly supports these organizations, groups, and individuals… Two beaded paintings made by some friends in Cam Nam were sold for 15 million VND each, and the proceeds will be sent to Mr. Phong for charity. On April 8, 2025, the "Sowing Seeds of Love in Hoi An" group opened a beverage shop at 437 Nguyen Tri Phuong, using the proceeds for charity because they saw that he didn't have to ask for donations. He also rented a small house there for his charitable activities. Anyone who wants rice or fish sauce can bring it themselves. Those in need can come and receive, "take only what you need." He assigned someone to look after the house and live there, saving him rent money!

The art of painting "masks of time" now has successors. He only observes and offers guidance. "Now that I'm seventy years old, I'll reconsider my charitable activities to better suit my age. I don't want to elaborate, but since you asked, I'll tell you. I've been very fortunate, and now I'm doing good deeds to repay life's kindness. It's as simple as that!" he confided.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghe-nhan-ve-mat-thien-lam-tu-thien-185250530164259523.htm