The exhibition "Stories of Watercolor - Vietnam Watercolor Artists"

In the flow of contemporary Vietnamese art, watercolor stands out as a humble yet powerful medium. Light, transparent, elusive, and almost unforgiving, watercolor demands from the artist concentration, restraint, and the ability to engage in a deep dialogue with their own emotions.

As we step into the new year 2026, with the seasons slowly leading up to the Lunar New Year, the exhibition "Watercolor Stories - Vietnam Watercolor Artists" carries with it special feelings about the boundless expressive potential of a seemingly fragile medium.

The exhibition brings together nine artists: Bui Duy Khanh, Dinh Quang Hai, Dinh Minh Thien, Nguyen Phuong Bac, Duong Ton Quoc Thuy, Chu Quoc Binh, Nguyen Thu Ha, Bao Huynh, and Hoang Quoc Dat – members of the Vietnam Watercolor Artists Group. Each comes from a different background, bringing with them unique life experiences, professional backgrounds, and artistic interests. But at this meeting point, they choose to stand side by side, engaging in dialogue with a shared medium: watercolor.

Instead of seeking uniformity, the exhibition poses open questions: Who are we when creating alone? Who are we when our work is placed in relation to others? And where has watercolor—with all its uncertainty and freedom—led each artist on their expressive journey? These very questions form the spiritual structure of the exhibition, where each work is a unique voice, yet all blend into a shared space of emotion and thought.

The exhibited works span a wide range of themes and styles: from landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes, boats and the sea, to portraits, abstract art, and expressive, surrealist works. There, viewers can encounter clear yet decisive layers of color, spontaneous blending, subtly restrained stillness, or profound inner dialogues hidden behind human faces. Watercolor, through the hands of each artist, is no longer a purely technical skill, but a means of recording the rhythm of life, memories, thoughts, and even unnameable emotions.

The exhibition also clearly showcases the diversity and individuality of each artist:

Artist Bui Duy Khanh, with his solid academic background and extensive international experience, brings to the exhibition the spirit of both a leader and a companion. His paintings demonstrate a calmness in structure, a mastery of color and space, while still maintaining the characteristic freedom of watercolor. Viewers can sense his experience and professional skill, but without imposing anything; instead, they can open up a broad space for dialogue.

Chu Quoc Binh exudes maturity and composure. From streets and flowers to boats and the sea, his paintings demonstrate a balance between masterful technique and natural emotion. Each work is a testament to his ability to harmonize experience and inspiration, between control and freedom—the core spirit of watercolor.

Dinh Quang Hai (Hai Tre) comes to the exhibition with childhood memories and a refined perspective on city streets and nature. His paintings have a slow rhythm, rich in narrative, like slices of memory preserved in watercolor. For Hai Tre, watercolor is not just a medium but a way of telling stories about life: simple, intimate, and humane. Light is restrained in a balance between light and dark; starting from a white sheet of paper – absolute light – he places the first dark strokes to allow light to emerge. For him, watercolor is a leisurely pace that slows down even the hurried pace in the lingering gaze.

For Dinh Minh Thien, painting is a spiritual space. The concept of "sowing color on the field of the heart" is expressed through works rich in inner strength, where colors and forms not only reflect the external world but also the inner freedom of the artist. His paintings are contemplative, showing that watercolors can become a stage for emotions, where the artist finds themselves and the viewer empathizes.

Nguyen Phuong Bac brings to the exhibition the spirit of an artist deeply connected to the life and art activities of many regions. His paintings are simple, skillful, and show a blend of practical experience and personal emotion. In them, watercolors don't showcase technique, but quietly record everyday moments with sincerity and perseverance.

Duong Ton Quoc Thuy has expanded the scope of watercolor to include areas of inner expression. From landscapes and still lifes to expressionist and surrealist works, his paintings reflect the psychological shifts and emotional turmoil of people in a rapidly changing social context. In his hands, watercolor becomes versatile, even intense, yet retains depth and subtlety.

Bao Huynh brings to the exhibition a warm, classic, and poetic color palette. His paintings are connected to everyday life, to small but emotionally rich moments. The smooth technique, subtle lighting, and just the right amount of romance help viewers feel a sense of peace and tranquility, a spirit very fitting for the end-of-year atmosphere, when people tend to return to simple values.

Hoang Quoc Dat chose a unique path by using watercolors on wood instead of paper, creating a richer, more subdued emotional effect where the colors seep slowly, leaving a distinct mark of time and the surface. Not having formal art training, he approached watercolors with the authenticity and enduring power of life experiences.

The only female artist in the group, Nguyen Thu Ha, brings psychological depth through her series of watercolor portraits. For her, each face is a mirror reflecting the inner self. Her approach to the subject through dialogue and empathy allows her portraits to transcend mere reproducing appearances, touching upon life stories and hidden emotions. Within the context of the group exhibition, her paintings create a moment of reflection, a space for dialogue between the viewer and themselves.

It is the differences within these similarities that give the exhibition its vitality. Without imposing a single artistic trend or manifesto, "Watercolor Stories - Vietnam Watercolor Artists" respects creative individuality while affirming the adaptability, capacity, and powerful expressiveness of watercolor in today's art landscape. Above all, through the works presented, the exhibition opens a journey – where each artist continues to dialogue with their medium, and viewers enter a world of shades, water, and emotion… And it is also a dialogue between the individual and the community, between technique and emotion, between tangible forms and the intangible vibrations of the soul.

Beyond the exhibition space, the event is further enhanced by a series of accompanying activities, allowing the public to engage with watercolor not only through finished artworks but also through stories of the craft and direct experiences with the artists.

The exhibition opening ceremony will take place at 3:00 PM on January 24, 2026, at Art Space - 42 Yet Kieu Street, marking the beginning of an emotionally rich artistic journey in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

Exhibition period: from January 24, 2026 to February 1, 2026.

In addition, two themed events were held concurrently:

- Art Talk “Watercolor Stories” (10:00 - 11:30 AM, Sunday, January 25, 2026), where participating artists will share their creative styles, personal techniques, and notable trends in contemporary Vietnamese watercolor.

- Workshop “The Transformation of Watercolor” (9:00 AM - 11:30 AM, Saturday, January 31, 2026), featuring demonstrations and in-depth watercolor technique instruction, offering a direct perspective on the versatile transformation capabilities of this medium through the hands of an artist.

The series of activities not only enriches the exhibition experience but also opens up spaces for dialogue, where watercolors are seen, heard, and felt through multiple layers of approach.

PV