artLIVE – The art exhibition ‘Figuring a Shape’ opens a polyphonic dialogue between form and idea, two core elements of artistic thought. The conversation resonates, reflects, and intertwines, connecting the heritage of the Indochina College of Fine Arts with the spirit of contemporary painting.
Continuing To Ngoc Van’s artistic dream
The exhibition presents 71 sketches by the late master To Ngoc Van, a curated selection from his extensive artistic legacy, in conversation with seven contemporary artists: Kim Bach, Dang Xuan Hoa, Phan Cam Thuong, Duy Hoa, Trieu Phuong, Le Thuy, and Xuan Lam.
These artists represent successive generations who have inherited the creative spirit of the Indochina College of Fine Arts. Together, they contribute their artistic voices to celebrate the school’s 100th anniversary, the birthplace of modern Vietnamese fine arts.
Artist Kim Bach (born 1938) graduated from the National University of Fine Arts in Kiev, Ukraine. A seasoned painter with nearly four decades of teaching at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts, she also served as Chair of the Art Council of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association from 1990 to 1999.
Known for her multi-material works rich in depth and emotion, Kim Bach’s portraits have earned her a respected place in Vietnamese art history.
Artist Phan Cam Thuong (born 1957) is both a painter and a distinguished scholar in culture and art theory. His influence has shaped Vietnamese art for over four decades since the Doi Moi period.
Beyond painting, he has contributed significantly through his academic works such as Vietnamese Ancient Graphics (2000), Everyday Art (2008, 2018), and The Material Civilization of the Vietnamese (2011).
Artist Dang Xuan Hoa (born 1959) stands among the leading figures of Vietnamese painting since the 1990s. A graduate of the Hanoi University of Fine Arts (1983) and current Chairman of the Art Council of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, his works have been featured in renowned international auction houses such as Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Bonhams, as well as in major collections across Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Artist Duy Hoa (born 1987) represents the younger generation of contemporary painters. He pursues a semi-abstract style through his landscapes and still lifes, creating a distinct visual world marked by compositional sensitivity, balanced tones, and subtle symbolism. His creative space lies in the suburban outskirts of Hanoi, where the riverbanks and farmlands from Dan Phuong to Song Phuong inspire his poetic imagery.
Artist Trieu Phuong (born 1987), a graduate of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts (2015), explores the intersection between painting and experimental film. Her solo exhibition “Come Here, Sit Down” (Annam Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, 2023) and group shows such as “Work Room Four” (2016) and “Nghich” (2021) reflect her ongoing pursuit of new artistic languages and identity.
Artist Le Thuy (born 1988), based in Hoi An, graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts (2013). Her work explores themes of suffering, loss, and the struggle of human existence.
Le Thuy’s paintings often carry a critical tone, addressing issues of social indifference and cultural or environmental trauma. She participated in the Asia Pacific Triennial (QAGOMA, 2024) and was recognized at the Sovereign Asian Art Prize (Hong Kong, 2022).
Her notable solo exhibitions include Desolation (A2Z Art Gallery, Paris, 2024) and The Deafening Silence (Vin Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, 2020).
Artist Nguyen Xuan Lam (born 1993) bridges tradition and modernity. A graduate of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and a Fulbright scholar with a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), he is known for reviving Vietnamese folk art through digital graphics. In his practice, Xuan Lam acts as a “visual archaeologist”, reimagining cultural memories to open new visual possibilities for the future.
‘Figuring a Shape’ – To Ngoc Van’s legacy in today’s art
It is impossible to discuss the foundations of modern Vietnamese art without mentioning To Ngoc Van — a visionary painter, thinker, and respected educator. Graduating as valedictorian of the Indochina College of Fine Arts’ second class (1926–1931), he was admired for his technical mastery and ability to capture the modern beauty of Hanoi’s people and city life. His legacy continues to inspire generations of artists and remains a cornerstone of Vietnamese fine arts.
After the Doi Moi period, globalization opened a new era for Vietnamese art. Many artists moved beyond the traditional canvas, experimenting with installation, performance, and video art. Conceptual art became a defining practice — complementing yet challenging the conventions of academic painting.
This shift brought forth essential questions: What is the place of academic formalism in contemporary art? Can concept and form still coexist? How should we view the modern relevance of To Ngoc Van’s legacy and that of the Indochina College of Fine Arts itself?
The exhibition “Figuring a Shape” offers a compelling answer — a visual dialogue that connects To Ngoc Van with today’s artists. Whether using oil, lacquer, silk, paper, or mixed media, these artists inherit and reinterpret his creative spirit through their works. Displayed across four exhibition spaces, they reaffirm the inseparable relationship between form and idea in the evolution of Vietnamese art.
The exhibition “Figuring a Shape” runs from October 18 to November 2, 2025, at K-Art Studio, 67 To Hien Thanh, Hanoi.
Photo: Phu Sa Art Foundation, Lan Tinh Foundation
