Enjoying the "flowers" in Tran Quoc Long's paintings.

The creation of "Flowers Blooming in the Night"

Inspired by the poetic line from Quang Dung's poem "Tay Tien" - "Flowers bloom in the night air of Muong Lat," the works in this exhibition by artist Tran Quoc Long evoke the ferocity of nature, of the people of Thanh Hoa, and of the Muong region - the artist's homeland. And it is this ferocity of nature that has permeated the people born in this land, and even his creative style.

But just like in "Tay Tien," the lacquer paintings in "Flowers Returning in the Night" become more intense and poignant, yet also more profound, subtle, and vibrant. Looking at the women depicted in their dark, mysterious lacquer paintings, it's as if they are wildflowers just beginning to bloom in the quiet night, enveloped in mist.

Not content with traditional shades of brown, black, gold, and silver, Tran Quoc Long's lacquer paintings break through with hues of teal, orange, and red… reflecting the explosive emotions of a young man full of aspirations and anxieties about life.

The paintings in the exhibition were created by him in a small rented room in the mountain town of Da Lat. At night, when the mist enveloped the courtyard, soaking every leaf on the peacock tree in front of his house, he began to paint. It was then that his soul, in its quietude, confronted loneliness and the yearning for expression… all of which he distilled and presented in his paintings. He conversed with life through the palette of lacquer paints. And so, these paintings, like flowers, were born in the quiet of the misty night.

If you look closely at each painting displayed in the exhibition, you will notice that they all relate to flowers. This is because the artist created "Flowers in the Night" in the city of flowers, Da Lat. For him, Da Lat is the place that embraces the artist's soul.

Paintings from the child of the sea

Artist Tran Quoc Long comes from a family of fishermen in North Central Vietnam, a place where they endure the harsh weather year-round. Therefore, his parents always believed that being an artist was a job for "the children of the wealthy" and wholeheartedly hoped their son would find a stable, specific job. However, for Tran Quoc Long, he sees no job more specific than painting. "Being able to do art is already rewarding," he confided.

He shared: "Lacquer painting is not simply a subject I studied at school, but an art form I've dedicated my life to pursuing. For me, lacquer painting isn't difficult; you just need to let it become unconscious, letting it seep into you. Art doesn't need any techniques, just love for it."

Preserver of traditional art

Lacquer painting is a very laborious process, but in 2018 alone, Tran Quoc Long managed to complete nearly 50 pieces. He says only "crazy" people like him would dare to do this. A single lacquer painting requires at least 15 layers. The process of painting, sanding, and letting the colors soak overnight takes a great deal of effort, not to mention the time spent developing the concept beforehand. He says that if he's in good health, he can paint up to 6 pieces in a month.

Tran Quoc Long is also one of the few Vietnamese artists who pursue traditional lacquer painting. Most young artists prefer lacquer paintings made with Japanese powder, a type of powder that quickly produces vibrant colors and is much simpler to paint than traditional lacquer paintings. His choice is not only a difficult step but also a long-term one to preserve Vietnamese art. To paint traditional lacquer, the artist must use traditional Vietnamese lacquer combined with expensive metals like gold and silver. What's special is that these paintings are done on wooden panels (made from wood, alluvial soil, and straw, usually with 6-7 layers).

With such meticulousness and dedication, the way artist Tran Quoc Long develops his painting art is also the way he preserves traditional Vietnamese crafts such as the wood carving and lacquerware making.

The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge from December 15th to 19th, from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM, at the Bentley House, Landmark 81 building.You can watch a video introducing the artist and the exhibition at the following link: https://vimeo.com/306512377