Ceramic mosaic art of artist Mai Van Nhon

In the series of activities to celebrate the upcoming 80th anniversary of National Day September 2, the exhibition “80 years of journey of Independence, Freedom, Happiness” in Hanoi organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is a major cultural and artistic meeting place. The program is a place where many outstanding works of artists from all over the country converge, including Mr. Mai Van Nhon - a painter from Dong Nai province.

The exhibition “80 years of the journey of Independence, Freedom, Happiness” introduces a variety of creative forms: painting, sculpture, photography... Each art form has its own expressive language, not only recreating memories of the past, but also aiming to reflect the rhythm of contemporary life. In the midst of that typical art space, Bien Hoa ceramic mosaics are present, as an affirmation that the beauty of Dong Nai 's more than 100-year-old heritage is being preserved and shining. Each small piece of ceramic through the talented hands of artist Mai Van Nhon is shaped, becomes a scene, becomes a feeling. Each of his works expresses the desire for independence, freedom, and happiness. This is also the theme of the exhibition.

Born as an engineer, Mr. Mai Van Nhon has a great passion for painting. Not only using traditional materials such as oil paint, lacquer, etc., he also paints on other unique materials such as: etched stainless steel, digital painting, mosaic painting. Among them, ceramic mosaic painting - a type of art combining heritage and contemporary art - is a prominent genre in the creative career of artist Mai Van Nhon.

Since 2008, he has been researching how to make ceramic paintings. He has meticulously researched and implemented steps such as finding ceramics, glue, and mixing glaze. More than a year later, the first ceramic mosaic works were born, receiving the attention and support of the art world and art lovers. Up to now, he has been creating Bien Hoa ceramic mosaics for nearly 20 years. It can be said that artist Mai Van Nhon is the pioneer in developing Bien Hoa ceramic mosaics and making this genre of paintings famous throughout the country.

Artist Mai Van Nhon brings to the Exhibition "80 years of journey of Independence, Freedom, Happiness" a collection of cultural portraits including 7 works:

Ta Lai Eyes - the work uses bright colors, depicting the deep yet bright and innocent eyes of a Choro ethnic child in Ta Lai region. Leaving a cultural mark on ethnic minorities in Dong Nai.

Mother of Cu Lao - The contrast between ceramic arrangement techniques: the background is arranged evenly, the characters are arranged in many directions is a unique shaping technique. This change in rhythm creates a lively feeling, further highlighting the image of the heroic mother in Cu Lao region, simple but with an indomitable spirit, representing millions of Vietnamese mothers who made great sacrifices during the war.

Painter Mai Van Nhon also made a splash with his ceramic mosaics depicting portraits of more than 20 heads of state displayed at the exhibition “Portraits of APEC Economic Leaders 2017”.

Mother and the Sea - The work depicts the longing of a woman, waiting day and night for her husband and children who are drifting on a boat at sea to return soon. The painting expresses the true emotions of the life of the people in Central Vietnam.

Searching in impermanence (ceramic mosaic, 85x125cm).

Thien Thai - The work's name is taken from the name of Van Cao's epic poem, which was published when he was 18 years old. The scene in "Thien Thai" has a peach blossom stream, fog covering the path, a bamboo boat, and distant mountains like a magical painting, a vagueness between dream and reality. Therefore, when portraying the father of Thien Thai, painter Mai Van Nhon only used "non-colors": white and black. These two colors are neither hot nor cold. They create contrast and complementarity, a transformation between reality and illusion, existence and dream, a desire to transcend everyday life to a magical dreamland - a desire to touch the ideal beauty and sublimate the soul.

In addition, there are 3 portraits of Trinh Cong Son, Bui Xuan Phai and Bui Giang. These are all artists who have created consistently and have contributed much to the country's art from before to after the revolution.

Most of these works have been honored and awarded in many large and small competitions in the country. For example, Thien Thai won the B prize of Dong Nai Province Literature and Arts Award - Fine Arts category in 2024; Old Soul of Old Street was selected by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association to participate in the Regional Fine Arts Exhibition VII, August 2024.

Old town soul (material: ceramic + Acrylic + oil paint, 105x170cm).

“I always direct my works towards my homeland and roots. From the hard-working mothers of the countryside, the silent heroes to the great artists of the nation - all are endless sources of inspiration. I have a great passion for ceramic mosaics because this material carries the breath of earth, of fire, of Bien Hoa tradition and also because it has the longevity and sustainability like the love of the country in the hearts of Vietnamese people. For me, art is not only to admire, but also to remind us of history, roots and responsibilities of each generation” - artist Mai Van Nhon shared.

The presence of a ceramic mosaic - an art form with a strong local identity in a major national cultural event has shown Dong Nai's contribution to the general flow of Vietnamese fine arts. Painter Mai Van Nhon deserves to be respected not only for his talent, but also for his aspiration to contribute to national art and his steadfast devotion to his homeland and country.

Heng Xuan

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202508/nghe-thuat-ghep-gom-cua-hoa-si-mai-van-nhon-ace20c1/