A piece of good news at the beginning of 2023 for watercolor artists in particular and the Vietnamese art community in general is that artist Nguyen Toan (born in 1986) has just won the top prize at the 14th International Watercolor Competition organized annually in the United States by the prestigious Watercolor Artist magazine. The Vietnamese artist's watercolor painting surpassed nearly 2,000 works by thousands of professional artists from many countries, including watercolor powerhouses like China, the United States, and France, due to its outstanding artistic method, material handling, design elements, and creativity that made a strong impression on viewers.
Nguyen Toan is a member of the Realist group of painters and the only one who paints with watercolors. He developed a passion for watercolors while still a student at the University of Industrial Fine Arts and pursued this medium because of his love for its transparency, conductivity, and the difficulty in controlling it, which often creates unexpected effects. The artist shared that there are many ways to express himself with watercolors, for example, sometimes he combines watercolors with pastels and pencils.
In Vietnamese art, watercolors were for a considerable period overshadowed by oil paints, lacquers, acrylics, etc. Watercolors can be painted directly and quickly outdoors, so they are often used for note-taking or sketching to support creative work with other materials. Additionally, watercolor paintings are quite popular for illustrating literary books or research materials.
According to artist Ho Hung (born in 1980), a founding member of the Vietnam Watercolor Art forum and the Saigon Watercolor Club, in the past, domestic collectors paid little attention to watercolor paintings, and watercolor artists usually only sold their works to foreign partners. Events dedicated to this art form were also quite rare. However, since joining the International Watercolor Society (IWS) in 2014, Vietnamese watercolors have gained a foothold in the region and the world, attracting a large community of artists and art lovers. Vietnamese artists have participated in many exhibitions in Canada, Italy, Thailand, India, Portugal, Indonesia, etc., and have won international awards and titles. Some prominent contemporary watercolor artists include: Bui Duy Khanh, Nguyen Ngoc Quan, Truong Van Ngoc, Ho Hung, Bao Huynh, Doan Quoc, Luong Binh, Van Lam, Quang Tien...
To keep up with modern art trends, many elaborate, large-scale watercolor paintings have emerged with unique themes and techniques, showcasing the creativity and continuous learning of artists. With their practicality and versatility in color, watercolor paintings stimulate many artists to continue exploring and experimenting with complex techniques such as splashing, layering, and tapping. In terms of style, not only realistic works but also many abstract and semi-abstract pieces have appeared.
For example, consider the lotus paintings by artist Truong Van Ngoc (born in 1990). The artist has made his mark with a series of watercolor paintings of lotus flowers, but instead of depicting specific details of their form, he portrays the state and characteristics of the lotus through variations in space and color transitions.
On the other hand, the movement to teach and learn watercolor painting is thriving in many major cities such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, etc., bringing watercolors closer to the masses. Basic watercolor painting techniques are easy to learn, and the tools are simple and compact, so office workers, housewives, students, and everyone else can participate to get acquainted with painting. While amateur painting classes are more for entertainment, they also contribute to building knowledge and aesthetic thinking in students.
Several online clubs and groups maintain regular sketching sessions, helping artists of different generations connect with each other and providing opportunities for talented artists to pursue their passion. Since 2021, domestic watercolor exhibitions have been held more frequently, even during the Covid-19 pandemic. The presence of international exhibitions held in Vietnam also provides opportunities for local artists to exchange and learn from each other, such as:
The international exhibition “Art and Peace” (2021) featured 60 artists from 17 countries, the “International Autumn Watercolor Exhibition” showcased 90 works from 42 countries, the “Con Dao – Historical Sites and Scenic Spots” exhibition (2021), the “Meeting of Colors” exhibition (2022) brought together 20 Vietnamese artists from across the country and some living abroad, and the “Spring” exhibition (2022) presented watercolor paintings by many young artists...
The Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association organized a watercolor painting exhibition in April 2022 and, for the first time, awarded a separate fine arts prize for this genre, attracting more than 300 entries. Most recently, the exhibition "Sunny Day" by artist Nguyen Hong Quan (born in 1957), held just before the Lunar New Year of the Rabbit 2023, presented viewers with 60 watercolor paintings depicting the simple, peaceful, yet vibrant nature and people of the Southwestern region of Vietnam.
Recently, several watercolor exhibitions by Vietnamese-born artists have also attracted attention, such as the exhibition by Minh Dam (real name Dam Truyen Minh) - a well-known watercolor artist in Poland; and the two solo exhibitions "Home" and "Dream" by Vincent Monluc (a French artist of Vietnamese origin).
Their works clearly demonstrate a seamless blend of Eastern and Western cultures, with a free-spirited, modern approach to lyrical themes and subtle details of traditional Vietnamese culture.
Artist Vincent Monluc returned to Vietnam in 2020 and has spent a lot of time traveling throughout the country to capture landscapes and life through watercolor paintings, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, from the northern mountainous provinces to the central coast and the vast Central Highlands…
In 2023, numerous exhibitions and watercolor painting workshops will continue to be organized in various locations across the country. Several watercolor artists have also shared their plans for future work, such as traveling abroad to learn and find inspiration, experimenting with new techniques, and holding solo exhibitions. These encouraging signs bring joy and motivation to artists and the public who appreciate this art form.
Source: https://nhandan.vn/suc-song-moi-cua-tranh-mau-nuoc-post738151.html
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