Indochina Fine Arts Heritage at Quang San Museum

Once hammered for $717,000 at Christie's in 2021, the Mona Lisa (1974) by artist Mai Trung Thu is on display at the Quang San Art Museum.

From left to right: Countryside by Nguyen Gia Tri, Portrait of a Young Girl by Tran Van Can and Tu Hai by Vu Cao Dam

Along with that are works by artists Le Pho, Le Thi Luu, Vu Cao Dam, Nguyen Gia Tri... The works are being displayed in the theme Roots that never stop growing, taking place from now until January 31, 2026 on the ground floor of Quang San Art Museum, organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Indochina College of Fine Arts (EBAI) 1925-2025.

Mona Lisa and the smile through a new lens

The public has the opportunity to travel back in time to the Indochina period (1925-1945), admiring the works of famous painters who were French lecturers, traveling artists and students in the first nine years of the school.

The early years of EBAI marked a brilliant period in the history of Vietnamese fine arts when both lecturers and students were passionate about exploring and experimenting with indigenous materials, creating a special fusion between traditional national art and European academic painting.

Those experiments contributed to shaping the unique artistic identity of Vietnam during the Indochina period: aestheticism, aiming for beauty through the subtle blend of French scholarship and the consciousness of searching for national identity.

The Mona Lisa (1974) by the famous painter Mai Trung Thu is a typical example of that contemporary search for Vietnamese identity.

Completed by the famous artist at the age of 68, this is the third version, also the largest (53.5 x 37.5cm) of Mai Trung Thu's painting from the original by the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci.

The work is considered symbolic, representing Mai Trung Thu's mature creative period and lifelong journey of discovery and learning from European masters.

Previously, Mai Trung Thu painted two versions of Mona Lisa in 1958 and 1961. Compared to the two previous versions, Mona Lisa (1974) has a completely different color palette with a color gamut that shifts to a cooler, richer, and more restrained tone.

Mona Lisa (1974) is at a more contemplative age with changes in color and costume patterns. The background of Ha Long Bay has turned to sunset, and the artist's seal has been moved modestly to the lower right corner.

Although they are only derivative works, Mai Trung Thu's Mona Lisa paintings still leave a special mark because of the way he conveys culture: both honoring the Renaissance spirit of Leonardo da Vinci and affirming Vietnamese identity.

Viewers will immediately recognize the Vietnamese Mona Lisa with her elegant ao dai, her black hair neatly tied under a veil, her hands clasped against the misty backdrop of Ha Long.

Using her favorite silk material, Mai Trung Thu further enhances the fragile yet emotional beauty, contrasting with Western oil painting, recreating the classic smile of Mona Lisa in Vietnamese sensibility.

Three versions of Mona Lisa in 1958, 1961 and 1974 by famous painter Mai Trung Thu

Spirit of preservation, spread and connection

Along with Mona Lisa by Mai Trung Thu, The Ever-Growing Roots also introduces a number of newly released works by famous painters of the same period such as Le Pho, Le Thi Luu, Vu Cao Dam...

The works demonstrate how Vietnamese artists approach global art from a local aesthetic perspective, especially those living in exile.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thieu Kien - Director of Quang San Art Museum, this is an opportunity to look back at a pivotal emotional period in the history of our country's fine arts, where national spirit and Western scholarship met, together creating a unique identity imbued with Asian aesthetics and also very modern and profound.

Audience takes souvenir photos with the Mona Lisa (1974) by famous painter Mai Trung Thu - Photo: H.VY

Mr. Kien also hopes that the public will have the opportunity to admire the works more directly and directly to partly understand the life and creative style of the painters of the Indochina College of Fine Arts in the first years.

On this occasion, the museum also launched a new brand identity with symbols, colors and visual language that are both expressive and inherit the spirit of heritage: preserving, spreading and connecting.

"We preserve the values ​​that have made up the history and identity of the nation, trying to spread artistic inspiration to the widest possible audience and making efforts to connect generations, between art and life, between Vietnam and the world .

These are efforts to make the museum not only a place to display but also a living space, where art is listened to, felt and lived with the times" - Mr. Nguyen Thieu Kien shared.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thieu Kien, operating a private museum requires many aspects from personnel, management, preservation, display, curation...

Mr. Kien sets the criteria for developing small steps every day, turning the museum into the most neat and professional place possible so that the public can have a new and comfortable experience when viewing the works.

The 1974 version of Mona Lisa by Mai Trung Thu at the exhibition "The Roots That Never Stop Growing"

Some images at the exhibition Roots that never stop growing:

Audiences view paintings by Nguyen Gia Tri, To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can... at the exhibition - Photo: H.VY

Nguyen Gia Tri's hometown

Portrait of a young girl by Tran Van Can

Tu Hai by Vu Cao Dam

Girl by the Stream by Le Thi Luu

HUYNH VY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/di-san-my-thuat-dong-duong-tai-bao-tang-quang-san-20250807091747765.htm