Lacquer painting 'Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence' by Chu Nhat Quang receives world record

The record recognition for Chu Nhat Quang's paintings not only honors the size, but also affirms the artist's creativity and spirit of daring to overcome limits.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh (3rd from right) and Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Dinh Thi Mai (4th from right) congratulate painter Chu Nhat Quang (2nd from right) on receiving the world record - Photo: T.DIEU

The above is the comment of Permanent Vice President of Vietnam Fine Arts Association Mai Thi Ngoc Oanh.

On October 11, the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the family of painter Chu Nhat Quang held a ceremony to receive the Guinness World Record for the work Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence as "The largest monolithic lacquer painting". Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh attended and congratulated painter Chu Nhat Quang.

At the award ceremony, the representative of the Guinness World Records organization affirmed that the record they awarded to Chu Nhat Quang was established based on the precise measurement process of independent experts. Thereby confirming the total area of ​​the painting is 2.4m x 7.2m, and the results showed that this is the largest monolithic lacquer painting ever made .

Many people enjoyed taking souvenir photos with Chu Nhat Quang's world record lacquer painting - Photo: T.DIEU

Close-up of the world record painting - Video: T.DIEU

Chu Nhat Quang and 7 years for the world record painting

According to artisan Tran Van Gia, who has been working in the traditional lacquer craft for more than 40 years in Duyen Thai village (Thuong Tin, Hanoi), the canvas - the base for lacquer painting - cannot be bought ready-made, but must be completely handcrafted through dozens of elaborate stages.

From selecting the wood, coating it with lacquer, mixing sawdust and clay to prevent termites, to sanding it flat, drying it, and then applying paint multiple times. All of this takes weeks, even months, until the surface of the frame is durable and smooth enough to receive the first coat of paint.

With large-scale, one-piece lacquer paintings, all limits of technique, materials and human strength are pushed to the extreme. But painter Chu Nhat Quang has overcome them.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung - brother-in-law of painter Chu Nhat Quang, was the one who suggested Chu Nhat Quang make a monumental series of paintings on the themes of Uncle Ho, war, and revolution on an especially large scale, in one piece, without cutting or stitching.

Nguyen Thanh Tung traveled everywhere to find the secret, from wooden airplane wings in the US to wooden ships in the Vietnamese sea, to drum-making villages in Nam Dinh. He wanted to find a type of wood that could connect, be strong, and withstand storms, in order to create a special skeleton system for large-sized panels.

As a result, they created a multi-layered sheet that acts like a "living" body - able to expand naturally, withstand climate changes well, and still maintain its flatness and colorfastness over time.

After having the large-sized canvas as desired, Chu Nhat Quang spent 7 years painting this work and a series of works with the same theme of resistance against France and the US.

"It's not just about size"

Speaking at the ceremony, art researcher Mai Thi Ngoc Oanh - permanent vice president of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, happily assessed that "this is an opportunity for Vietnamese fine arts to be promoted more widely in the international arena, encouraging the young generation of artists to continue to nurture their creative aspirations and honor national cultural values".

International guests asked to take souvenir photos with artist Chu Nhat Quang next to his painting of Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence - Photo: T.DIEU

Ms. Oanh also affirmed that the record recognition for this work is not only an honor for its size, but also affirms the creativity, courage and spirit of daring to overcome the limits of Vietnamese artists.

Painter Chu Nhat Quang is the son of Meritorious Artist Chu Luong and the grandson of People's Lacquer Artist Chu Manh Chan.

He showed his talent for painting from a young age, studying fine arts in the US. Recently he decided to return to Vietnam to focus on creating lacquer paintings.

In 2024, he opened his first solo exhibition in the garden of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi.

On September 2, his second solo exhibition - Independence Spring - displayed a series of large-scale lacquer paintings depicting revolutionary history and Uncle Ho, including the painting that was awarded a world record today.

BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tranh-son-mai-bac-ho-doc-tuyen-ngon-doc-lap-cua-chu-nhat-quang-nhan-ky-luc-the-gioi-20251011193608755.htm