The new appeal of silk paintings

The resurgence of silk

In 2025, the annual Fine Arts Award of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association chose silk painting as its centerpiece, aiming to encourage the creative spirit of artists while honoring a traditional medium that had once been in decline.

After the preliminary selection round, 114 works by 89 artists were chosen for exhibition. These numbers are not only statistical in nature, but also reflect the passion and dedication of many generations of artists to silk – a material that demands finesse, patience, and solid technique. This year's exhibition brings together artists from Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Gia Lai, Can Tho , Dong Nai, Vinh Long, and other locations. This convergence has created a diverse and rich space, affirming the strong vitality of silk painting in the overall art scene of the country.

Visitors view silk painting exhibition at the 2025 Fine Arts Awards of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association.

While silk paintings were previously associated with traditional themes, leaning towards lyrical and gentle beauty, young artists are now offering new perspectives. This change is not accidental but reflects a contemporary innovation.

Many critics acknowledge that in recent years, silk painters have boldly innovated their techniques and color palettes, incorporating more modern forms and shades while still preserving the poetic quality and smooth texture of silk. This harmonious blend of tradition and modernity creates a special appeal, allowing silk paintings today to touch the hearts of viewers.

Artist Nguyen Trung Tin, Chairman of the Art Council of the 2025 Fine Arts Award, Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, shared: “The efforts to revive silk painting by the Ho Chi Minh City painting community have yielded positive results, creating unique and distinctive features compared to the works of artists in other localities.”

Unleash new creativity.

In the context of integration, as many new art trends enter the market, the continued choice of silk by young artists is a positive sign, demonstrating the inherent vitality of this traditional Vietnamese medium. However, for the resurgence of silk painting to be more sustainable, more platforms, awards, workshops, exhibition opportunities, and international exchanges are needed. Simultaneously, training programs at art schools should pay more attention to this medium, sparking creative enthusiasm in students – the future leaders of Vietnamese art.

Winning first prize at the 2025 Fine Arts Awards, young artist Le Thi Que Huong (born in 1996) shared that after graduating from the Silk Painting major at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, she dedicated most of her time to personal creation, making silk painting as familiar to her as breathing. Que Huong often uses silk woven by an artisan in Ha Nam , with two types: coarse and fine threads, each with its own unique beauty. She particularly loves coarse silk because the colors appear brighter and richer when painted on it.

“In silk painting, sketching the composition is the most important step. Because painting on silk requires absolute precision: once a line or color is placed on the silk, it cannot be erased or altered. Therefore, from the sketch to the coloring process, everything must be carefully calculated. The artist needs meticulousness, patience, and skill to master the material. As a young person living in the modern era, I often create from things close to my life, so the paintings are like records, preserving a part of the breath of the times,” Que Huong shared.

It can be affirmed that silk painting today has stepped out of its "comfort zone," embracing a contemporary spirit. This return is not simply the revival of a medium, but also a testament to the adaptability and strong resurgence of traditional Vietnamese art. When art finds empathy with the public, and tradition is inherited and enhanced, that is also when national cultural identity is affirmed and spread more powerfully.

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