These days, from inside the house to the small courtyard of artist Hung Hoa Lu's family home, it's like a "construction site" cluttered with canvases and paints, showing the passion of the artist for his new art project. Every morning at 3-4 a.m., he wakes up and immerses himself in the world of colors.
From a photographer who has won many national and international awards, now turning to holding a brush, artist Hung Hoa Lu's paintings have a strong realistic style. Each stroke brings out the vividness and authenticity of life that would be difficult to express if one did not observe carefully. When we visited, he was taking care of a painting of the working scene at Quy Nhon fish market, with the warm and close pace of life that he loves, expressed in each stroke full of artistic inspiration.
"I've traveled extensively throughout Vietnam, from the North to the South, so I have a wealth of material about life in different regions. Therefore, transitioning from the theme of forests, as I've done for a long time, to the theme of the sea, I didn't encounter any difficulties," shared artist Hung Hoa Lu.
Currently, he has completed five deeply inspired paintings of the beauty of the sea using various materials such as oil, acrylic, and mixed media; the painting sizes range from 60 x 80 cm to 100 x 150 cm. From these, simple yet distinctive images such as sea morning glory flowers, fish markets… or rich cultural identities like the majestic Champa temples… have harmoniously blended with the sky, people, and the endless nature of the highlands. Not relying solely on his existing life experiences, some of Hung Hoa Lu's paintings are boldly expressed with "non-realistic" lines to convey the connection between forest and sea, as can be seen in the painting "Waves" with dugout canoes playing with the waves.
Artist Hung Hoa Lu said: "Dukeboats are a means of transportation in the waterways of the Central Highlands. I release them into the sea with overflowing joy amidst the white waves. 'Is this the sea of Quy Nhon...' - He smiled subtly, 'If you see Quy Nhon, then those are the waves of Quy Nhon.'"
The creativity of artist Hung Hoa Lu is remarkable, as he ventures into exploring new things even after turning 70. Previously, in May 2025, he launched his first solo exhibition titled "Mountain Eyes," featuring 56 works. The exhibition was a celebration of the vast nature and the simple, kind-hearted people of the Central Highlands… Some works from this exhibition were selected to be included in the series "Forest and Sea as One Family," as a counterpoint to the sea theme.
According to Meritorious Artist Dang Cong Hung, Vice Chairman of the Gia Lai Literature and Arts Association, transitioning from photography to painting, artist Hung Hoa Lu is gradually establishing himself through initial success. With a spirit of diligent artistic work, he created the series of paintings "Forest and Sea as One Family," expressing the artist's emotions regarding a crucial national issue: "reorganizing the country."
“We deeply appreciate the dedication and seriousness in the creative work of artist Hung Hoa Lu, despite his advanced age. Through the sublime expression of his artistic emotions, he has contributed to connecting and harmonizing the two regions and two cultural areas, allowing them to walk hand in hand and understand each other on their journey of progress and development,” emphasized Meritorious Artist Dang Cong Hung.
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Artist Hung Hoa Lu said that many works are still being completed, also with the spirit of depicting a momentous "handshake." These include depictions of a folk wood sculpture garden in the Central Highlands by the sea; gongs "escaping" the communal house and festival space to perform in the white sand dunes; scenes of livelihood on basket boats; and gentle dolphins diving and swimming… "I hope to mobilize social resources so that I can soon organize an exhibition in Quy Nhon ward in early 2026. Like an echo from the vast mountains to the boundless sea!" - Artist Hung Hoa Lu expressed his hope.
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nghe-si-hung-hoa-lu-tu-bao-la-dai-ngan-den-menh-mong-xu-bien-post330861.html
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