Biography of Van Duong Thanh
Van Duong Thanh, was born in Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen district, Vietnam. Her father is Van Goi (1920-1960), an intellectual and patriot. Her mom is Nguyen Thi Xich (1920-1995), who passed away in Sai Gon.
She grew up in Hanoi and studied fine arts for 12 years at Hanoi University of Fine Arts, then she was a researcher at the Institute of Cultural Studies from 1982 to 1987.
She currently lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden and Vietnam.
Van Duong Thanh’s Career
Van Duong Thanh was sent to study a language master’s degree in Sweden. After graduating, she became the first Asian lecturer to teach fine arts in Swedish. She was also the first Vietnamese painter who was loved and admired by overseas students and established an art association named after her, Thành-Gruppen.
Fluent in foreign languages and proficient in painting techniques, Van Duong Thanh’s paintings immediately became famous in many countries around the world. Her paintings imbued with the Vietnamese soul have now been displayed in 16 national museums around the world, bringing home many prestigious awards for this female artists, especially the “International Outstanding Art” award” by CFMI, 1995.
Asian and European styles are harmoniously blended in Van Duong Thanh’s paintings, while modern Western painting techniques are used sparingly. Van Duong Thanh’s distinctive style is characterized by a well-balanced composition, brilliant colors, vivid expressions, and a rich melody tempered with a touch of abstraction.
Still colors from mellow to vibrant, from gentle to strong strokes, united in a skillful combination of folklore and abstract art, Van Duong Thanh’s paintings have brought to full of emotions, affectionate, imbued with love and nostalgia for the homeland. This is also the main inspiration in her compositions. Vietnamese nature and Vietnamese soul are always bold in each stroke, so Van Duong Thanh is also known as the “messenger of Vietnamese culture”.
The smooth and dynamic black brush strokes in Van Duong Thanh’s paintings cannot be recreated for the second time. That is also the reason why her paintings are collected by public works such as the D.I.C Star Hotel, Pacific Place building, Vinacapital, Galery Piony & Iris, domestic and foreign collectors,…
Through 1,800 paintings, and 85 solo exhibitions, painter Van Duong Thanh has increased the friendship and understanding of his homeland Vietnam to international friends. Although famed, but Van Duong Thanh does not hide in her own world. Her aspiration is to contribute to the cultivation of artistic talents. Drawing studio “White lotus” C29, 210 Nghi Tam (Hanoi) is where for many years she has opened drawing classes for children with artistic talent. To date, many of her students have become students of many international universities. For decades, Van Duong Thanh has auctioned many works to raise funds for disadvantaged children, opened a non-profit gallery for three years for the hunger eradication and poverty reduction program of the United Nations Development Program. United Nations (UNDP) in Hanoi, or donate works to auction to raise funds for scholarships for talented Vietnamese students in the US…
Especially in the international concert program “Watching the World” on October 16, 2019 at the Hanoi Opera House, Van Duong Thanh donated the entire money from the auction of 3 new works for Thien Nhan children and friends who need to operate to help them find their smiles and faith in life again.
On March 10, 2020, on the occasion of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Romania, artist Van Duong Thanh and Romanian Ambassador opened an art exhibition of 19th century Romanian masters and Van Duong Thanh paintings at the Art and Culture Research Institute Exhibition Center.
On May 15-16, 2020, Bui Xuan Phai and Van Duong Thanh, together with their families and children, established the Van Goi Study Promotion Fund, granted nearly 100 scholarships and 500 gifts to poor students in Phu Yen.
At the end of 2020, she was invited to exhibit her paintings at the Ethnographic Museum of Bucharest and the Pushkin National Museum in Moscow.
Van Duong Thanh’s Highlighted Artworks
• Hang Dao Street
• Hang Buom Street
• Memory of Dong Ngac village, Ha Noi…
