Viet Nam lacquer exhibition in Singapore

Phi Phi Oanh. Detail of Pro Se. 2017

Two lacquer paintings by artists Nguyen Gia Tri and Phi Phi Oanh are being exhibited at gallery 1 of the National Gallery of Singapore until 3rd September 2017.

The exhibition themed ‘Radiant Materials’ aims to help viewers experience the beauty and versatility of Vietnamese lacquer painting through the work of two artists - one modern and one contemporary - who have positively contributed to the development of this unique art form.

Nguyen Gia Tri is a Vietnamese artist known for his innovative use of lacquer in the 1930s as an expressive medium for modern painting.

In a special commission for National Gallery Singapore, contemporary artist Phi Phi Oanh responds to Nguyen Gia Tri’s monumental 1936 painting ‘Les Fées’ (The Fairies). She uses lacquer painting to explore the way we view images today, as fleeting, virtual and interactive.