The bustling scene of a highland market, captured in the lacquer painting Cho Bac Ha 2. This is one of 67 works by artist Hoang Sung, displayed at the "Hon Que" (Soul of the Countryside) exhibition, commemorating his 100th birth anniversary (1926-2026). The event takes place from 23/3 to 31/3 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

Art circles often refer to "Pho Phai" for artist Bui Xuan Phai's street paintings and "Gai Lien" for master painter Duong Bich Lien's female portraits. Artist Hoang Sung, however, is associated with "Cho Sung" (Sung's Markets), referring to his distinctive market scenes. Using various materials like lacquer, silk, and 'do' paper, he recreated the simple beauty of rural Vietnam and the lives of laborers through both lowland and highland markets.

Artist Hoang Sung captures a glimpse into the daily life of mountain dwellers in his work "Di Cho" (Going to Market). Due to limited exhibition space, his family selected only a few representative works. The paintings bear the distinct marks of time from the places he visited.

Hoang Sung's paintings are vibrant and diverse in color. Upon viewing the collection, artist Thanh Chuong expressed admiration for the artistic legacy Hoang Sung left behind. "If anyone wishes to understand Vietnamese cultural life, they can find an 'encyclopedia' in Hoang Sung's paintings", Thanh Chuong stated.

The painting "Cho Buoi Doan Hung" (Doan Hung Pomelo Market) depicts a marketplace for a famous specialty of Phu Tho. Art collector Ngo Kim Khoi, who previously admired Hoang Sung's paintings in Paris, France, was moved to see his works displayed in his homeland this time. He noted that the artist, despite not using traditional lacquer techniques, still conveyed a sense of spatial depth.

Buyers and sellers at sidewalk stalls and street vendors are depicted in the painting "Ho Thuyen Quang". According to Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Hoang Sung's paintings often feature large, cohesive compositions with many vividly portrayed characters, based on thorough anatomical studies.

The bustling scene of people passing by in the painting "Cho Mong Cai".

In addition to the lacquer paintings, the event also displays works in other materials, such as the 'do' paper piece "Cho Coc" (Frog Market), created in 1971. Artist Hoang Sung (1926-2018) was born in Hung Yen and was a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and the Vietnam Cinema Association. He participated in numerous exhibitions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, spanning from the 1960s to 2007. The artist also held exhibitions in Germany and France. Furthermore, his paintings are featured in private collections in the US, Japan, and Sweden.

He was also among the first generations to lay the foundation for Vietnamese animation. Hoang Sung served as director and artist for the film "Kam Pha and Nang Nga", which won the Golden Lotus Award at the Vietnam Film Festival in 1972. He received many prestigious medals and awards for his contributions to art. In 2022, his painting cluster "Deo Khe Nam Xua" (Old Khe Pass) and "Cho Cu Que Toi" (My Hometown's Old Market) were awarded the State Prize for Literature and Art.

Phuong Linh