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New Asia Gallery has put together a collection of articles to give our clients a better understanding of South East Asian art.

Evolution of Vietnamese Art

The evolution of Vietnamese art has been insulated and hidden from the world for so long, that it is only in the last two decades after Vietnam opened its doors to the world that we see a new approach which combines traditional subjects with contemporary styles or vice versa. Still, it was only in the 1990s that the Vietnamese contemporary art scene started revolutionising.

An Introduction to the Lacquer Art of Vietnam - Bang Sy Truc

In Vietnam, lacquer had a long tradition. More than 2,000 years ago, during the period of the Dong Son culture, the Viets already knew how to process raw lacquer for making useful household items. These items were decorated with pictures and then coated with lacquer. They were found in ancient tombs discovered here and there in northern Vietnam. Lacquered objects were discovered recently in the sunken boats belonging to the Nguyen Lords in southern Vietnam; they were found intact despite the fact that they had been immersed in salt water for more than 100 years. That is the reason why lacquer is very widely used for decoration in arts and crafts and industry. Today, in Hanoi, some artists have adopted this traditional lacquer production in their paintings.

The Making of Vietnamese Lacquer Paintings

The art of Lacquer painting is unique to Vietnam today. Lacquer work has a long tradition in Vietnam, in recent years, the younger generation of Vietnamese artists have taken this traditional art form and transformed it into a highly innovative and interesting genre. Painting with lacquer is a meticulous and time-consuming process. It takes about 3 months to complete a good piece of lacquer painting. The result is a durable, aesthetically pleasing and unique piece of art.

Asian Artists Paint the Colour of Money - Time magazine

Given the frothiness of the global art market as a whole, the rise in Asian art is understandable. Yet the boom in modern Asian art also serves as an important reminder that the region is not just a copier but an innovator as well. Asia's avant-garde artists explore the clash between ancient traditions and pell-mell development, the lure of commercialism, and, most fundamentally, the struggle for individuality on the world's most populous continent.

Changing Identity – Recent Works by Women Artists from Vietnam

Changing Identity introduces the work of ten contemporary Vietnamese women artists who challenge the stereotypes and traditional roles of women in Vietnamese society. This exhibition is the first survey of women artists from Vietnam to tour the United States. Through the use of various media, subject matters, and aesthetic sensibilities, two generations of artists share views of their country and the changing status of women. Together their work provides a diverse view of Vietnam itself, reflecting a range of opinions and experiences.