Nguyen Nhu Duc and the journey of 'bringing mother back to motherland'

After 11 years, Hanoian Nguyen Nhu Duc (Duc Bet) wandered to Hoi An, doing all kinds of jobs to earn a living to nurture his passion for painting, and suddenly "brought his mother back to the motherland" with the exhibition "Motherland".

Painter Nguyen Nhu Duc at the exhibition Motherland - Photo: T.DIEU

Motherland has just opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi ), friends are happy for the artist who loves to paint, wanders to paint, finally has his first solo exhibition at the age of 45.

More than 30 oil paintings in the exhibition are mostly large-sized, densely detailed and meticulously painted, during the 11 years Nguyen Nhu Duc lived in Hoi An with his mother, wife and children. And no matter what he painted, his mother's shadow was always faintly visible in it.

Nguyen Nhu Duc's surrealist paintings captivate viewers - Photo: T.DIEU

Nguyen Nhu Duc draws things 'close to his heart'

Nguyen Nhu Duc pursues the Surrealism school, quite close to the classics but still new in its absurd arrangements.

He said he has painted this series of paintings for a long time, but only now is he holding his first solo exhibition because he believes that a solo exhibition is a milestone marking an artist's working process, and must be truly meticulous.

So Nguyen Nhu Duc waited until he felt most satisfied and happiest with the paintings before introducing them to everyone.

Being greatly influenced by his mother and loving her, he wants to convey that love into his works.

During 11 years of painting in Hoi An, Nguyen Nhu Duc only painted the life around him, the things that were close to him. His mother, his wife, his daughter, and the land that nurtured him. He said those were the things closest to his heart, so he painted with joy.

But the subject is just an excuse for him to be creative in the material and writing style he loves.

Painter Nguyen Nhu Duc accepts many different jobs to keep his love of painting pure and complete - Photo: NVCC

Painting is forever faith

In this series of paintings by Nguyen Nhu Duc, there are recurring "codes": hands, beautiful nature, moonlight, women. There are many hands in the paintings.

He believes his paintings are full of femininity, just like himself. He likes softness, gentleness, romance, things that nurture the world , like mother earth.

As for the hands that are everywhere in his paintings, it is because to Nguyen Nhu Duc, hands are the symbol of love that nurtures this world.

Before language, hands were the means to express emotions, to protect, to shelter, to love. Hands were the emotions that were primitive, raw, and pure.

Admitting that his paintings are not easy to sell, while many of them take years to paint, Nguyen Nhu Duc still wants to fully follow the path of pure love with painting.

He accepted many different jobs, from jobs related to painting to unrelated jobs such as being a chef, opening a restaurant... to nurture his passion.

He wants his love for painting to be the purest, so that painting will always be his faith, a place for him to open his heart to everyone.

After the exhibition in Hanoi, Motherland continues to be brought by SiLart Station to Ho Chi Minh City to be displayed at Chillala - House of Art from August 1.

13 Moonlights in the Garden

Hoi An Spring

The work Connecting Love

The work Happiness

The Garden of Love

Peace Works

BIRD OF PARADISE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguyen-nhu-duc-va-chuyen-mang-me-ve-voi-dat-me-20250704172317083.htm