Contemporary art in Binh Duong – the colors of tradition and modernity

Since the early 20th century, the foundation of Binh Duong fine arts was formed with the establishment of Thu Dau Mot Native Fine Arts School (now Binh Duong Fine Arts and Culture College), one of the earliest art training institutions in the country. This place laid the first brick for the long-term development of lacquer art, wood carving, fine art pottery... closely associated with agricultural life and Southern folk culture. After more than a century, that tradition has been preserved, inherited and strongly developed.

Artist Nguyen Hoai Huyen Vu with his work "Street Rhythm"

Entering the period of renovation, especially since the early 2000s, Binh Duong fine arts has witnessed a strong transformation in both form and content of creation. In addition to traditional materials such as lacquer, terracotta, silk or wood, young artists have embarked on many modern materials such as soldered iron, acrylic - silver, light sculpture, wax and synthetic materials. According to many people in the Binh Duong Fine Arts Association, works such as "Spring Colors" by Nguyen Van Quy or "Yellow Gourd" by Nguyen Quang Son not only demonstrate skillful techniques but also carry a strong contemporary contemplation, reflecting social life in the period of industrialization and urbanization.

Fine art and photography exhibitions such as “Binh Duong – on the way of development” or the annual Southeast Regional Fine Art Exhibition have become important creative playgrounds, gathering hundreds of works from artists inside and outside the province. Through this, the public can easily see the diversity of schools, from realism, impressionism, abstraction to contemporary installation and expression art. Binh Duong Fine Arts not only recreates the space of craft villages, festivals, and homeland landscapes, but is also a place to express thoughts about the environment, human fate, and urbanization.

Many artists and painters have left a deep impression, such as Nguyen Hoai Huyen Vu with the sculpture "Street Rhythm". Nguyen Hoai Huyen Vu, born in 1974, is currently a teacher at Binh Duong College of Fine Arts and Culture. While teaching, he also devotes his efforts to creating and has achieved many successes in provincial and regional fine arts competitions and exhibitions. Most recently, Huyen Vu received the B prize for the work "Street 1" at the 19th Southeast Fine Arts Exhibition in 2014. Or Nguyen Quang Son and Nguyen Van Quy - typical faces of Binh Duong lacquer paintings in the new era. It can be seen that the continuity between tradition and contemporary creativity has created the unique features of the fine arts of this land - where art is always attached to the community, but not bound by the old framework.

Sculptor Chau Tram Anh with his relief work

Notably, in addition to professional artists, the art movement among young people and students in Binh Duong has also developed strongly. Many young people have brought their works to national youth art festivals, contributing to promoting the image of local culture and learning from international quintessence. Training institutions such as Binh Duong College of Fine Arts and Culture play an important role in nurturing the new generation of creators.

It can be said that Binh Duong contemporary art is the intersection between traditional beauty and the spirit of the times. From products imbued with the identity of Thu such as lacquer paintings, wooden statues, fine art ceramics... to new artistic experiments, all have contributed to forming a dynamic, creative and humanistic fine art appearance. With a solid training foundation and a team of dedicated artists, Binh Duong fine art is gradually asserting itself, not only in the Southeast region but also on the map of Vietnamese fine art.

The literary and artistic community in Binh Duong is no stranger to sculptor Chau Tram Anh (teacher at Binh Duong College of Fine Arts and Culture). It can be said that he is one of the people who is successful with his work and passion. Female painter Hong Xuyen (Provincial Literature and Arts Association) also has a very comprehensive article about Chau Tram Anh. According to Ms. Hong Xuyen: “Chau Tram Anh's works are a combination of many ideas harmoniously combined in the visual language between tradition and modernity, simplified stylization, borrowing images to describe ideas; thereby sending messages of love, optimism, generosity, and hospitality of people in the Southern land, always opening their arms to welcome friends from all over to gather and build life together, creating new breakthroughs towards a bright future filled with happiness".

Many of Chau Tram Anh's aluminum reliefs have high artistic quality and have won awards such as: "Opening ceremony" relief, "Peaceful moon" relief, "Disabled soldier following Uncle Ho's words" aluminum relief, "War zone D - Binh Duong" terracotta relief cluster that Binh Duong Newspaper had the opportunity to introduce.