Art Vietnam Gallery welcomes you to a celebration of art, life, music, and the whimsical, playful works of the Gang of Five’s esteemed artist, Ha Tri Hieu.
It was in part Hieu’s work in the early ’90s that opened the door to young artists who wanted to paint their emotions, hopes, and dreams—as opposed to the more traditional focus on the Vietnamese countryside or war effort. His work is wonderfully naïve, combining hints of imagination with the reality of what surrounds him.
Hieu’s paintings have long delighted viewers with their flights of fancy: lyrical expressions of countryside singers, cows, and self-portraits that exude the pastoral quality of a rural soul not yet urbanized. His style and palette—more and more leaning toward expressionism—are bold and full of colorful abandon.
For this exhibition, Portraits, Hieu has created a series of self-portraits. Some feature his signature figure of the artist smoking, and yet there is a newfound freedom and insouciance in the work that taunts the audience with joyful teasing. Maturity and wisdom have coupled with his boyish naïveté to imbue the paintings with the vision of a life well lived—bowing into contentment.
A series of whiskey boxes—this artist loves his whiskey!—complements the portraits with humorous depictions of women, wine, song, and all earthly pleasures.
Please visit our website to enjoy the works of the inimitable Ha Tri Hieu.
Suzanne Lecht
Art Director
Art Vietnam Gallery
