The work "Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence" - a proud record of Vietnamese lacquer

In the space of Ho Chi Minh Museum, the work "Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence" by young artist Chu Nhat Quang, which has just set a Guinness World Record, recreates the sacred moment of the nation with an emotional painting language, so that everyone standing in front of the work can feel pride and respect.

The large-scale lacquer painting "Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence" recognized by Guinness World Records and displayed at the Ho Chi Minh Museum has attracted the attention of domestic and international art lovers.

From dream to record

From the initial idea to completion is a journey of passion, aspiration and deep respect and gratitude for President Ho Chi Minh , an endless source of inspiration for the artist. More than a great work of art, the painting is a testament to the creative spirit of the young generation of Vietnam, who are using art to tell the story of the nation in their own way, full of courage, pride and humanity.

Painter Chu Nhat Quang with the work "Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence" which has just been recognized by Guinness World Record for large-scale, unassembled lacquer painting.

The work “Uncle Ho Reading the Declaration of Independence” - the world's largest continuous lacquer painting, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records Organization on September 4 - measures 2.4m x 7.2m, weighs 3 tons, and is completed on a single piece of wood.

The painting has two sides and is not combined, an unprecedented work in the history of world lacquer. The main content side shows the image of President Ho Chi Minh reading the "Declaration of Independence" at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1945 and the back side is titled "National Spring", symbolizing the joy of the whole nation in the spring of independence - freedom - happiness.

The work is a breakthrough of the 9X generation of artists. The image of President Ho Chi Minh has always been in the hearts of every Vietnamese person, but Chu Nhat Quang has expressed it in the unique way of the contemporary young generation while still maintaining the spirit and style of the beloved leader. This is a welcome sign for the positive transfer and inheritance of Vietnamese fine arts.

Painter Luong Xuan Doan, Chairman of Vietnam Fine Arts Association

According to artist Chu Nhat Quang, the idea of ​​a large-scale lacquer painting of beloved President Ho Chi Minh began in 2019 with the inspiration and special support of his brother-in-law, who is also his teacher, artist Nguyen Thanh Tung. For 6 years, artist Nguyen Thanh Tung and he have been researching historical documents and experimenting with new materials, combining tradition and modernity to create the painting.

Chu Nhat Quang recounted: “There were times when I had to stop to update and adjust based on new materials, or find transportation and construction solutions when moving the ton-heavy panels. But it was my love for Uncle Ho, the companionship and help of Mr. Tung, my family and colleagues that helped me overcome everything. When the painting was completed on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2, I felt an incomparable happiness.”

Painter Nguyen Thanh Tung, the teacher - brother who accompanied Chu Nhat Quang on the journey of researching large-scale lacquer painting, inspired the idea of ​​creating works about President Ho Chi Minh.

The work “Uncle Ho Reading the Declaration of Independence” - the world’s largest single-size lacquer painting, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records Organization on September 4 - measures 2.4m x 7.2m, weighs 3 tons, and is completed on a single piece of canvas. The painting has two sides and is not joined together, an unprecedented work in the history of world lacquer.

The story of the painting “Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence” and many other works about President Ho Chi Minh originated from the dream of painter Nguyen Thanh Tung, who passed on to Chu Nhat Quang the love of painting Uncle Ho. “I once dreamed of one day being able to paint Uncle Ho so beautifully and so large that even from afar, his face could still be clearly seen. A painting that would last over time in lacquer. When I met Chu Nhat Quang, an 8-year-old boy who loved painting, I passed on that aspiration to him and together with him, I realized that dream.”

Painter Nguyen Thanh Tung accompanied Chu Nhat Quang throughout the 9X artist's journey of studying art in Western countries. The two brothers traveled to many places together, researching materials for lacquer to replace wood. As Mr. Tung said, they even researched the materials used to make airplane wings and ship hulls very carefully, to create large-sized panels that could be up to tens of square meters in size, durable and not stretchy.

I once dreamed of one day being able to paint Uncle Ho so beautifully and so large that even from afar, his face could still be clearly seen. A lacquer painting that would last through the years. When I met Chu Nhat Quang, an 8-year-old boy who loved to paint, I passed on that aspiration to him and together with him, I made that dream come true.

Painter Nguyen Thanh Tung

“When researching materials, our first criteria was to be environmentally friendly, avoiding the use of wood, destroying forests, and trying to choose recycled materials. After many difficult and elaborate experiments and many failures, we finally succeeded. Up to now, no one has been able to create seamless lacquer paintings with unlimited sizes like Chu Nhat Quang's works,” said artist Nguyen Thanh Tung.

Painter Chu Nhat Quang diligently sketches of President Ho Chi Minh to develop large-scale lacquer paintings about him.

When the work "Uncle Ho Reading the Declaration of Independence" by Chu Nhat Quang was recognized by the Guinness World Records Organization as the world's largest single piece lacquer painting, painter Nguyen Thanh Tung was moved because this was not only the personal joy of Chu Nhat Quang, of himself and his extended family who have always supported and encouraged him, but also had more meaning, contributing to affirming the position of Vietnamese lacquer art and the mettle of a generation of young painters with modern knowledge, knowing how to inherit and promote the identity and values ​​of national culture.

“From now on, when friends and international art lovers mention the Guinness World Records, the work “Uncle Ho Reading the Declaration of Independence” will be on the list and they will remember Vietnam, remember a nation that loves peace , loves beauty, and knows how to appreciate and preserve the cultural and artistic heritage values ​​of their ancestors,” painter Nguyen Thanh Tung proudly shared.

Aspiration to reach far

Painter Luong Xuan Doan, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, commented on the Guinness World Record lacquer painting “Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence”: "The work is a breakthrough of the 9X generation of painters. The image of President Ho Chi Minh has always been in the hearts of every Vietnamese person, but Chu Nhat Quang has expressed it in the unique way of the contemporary young generation while still maintaining the spirit and style of the beloved leader. This is a good sign for the positive transfer and inheritance of Vietnamese fine arts."

Painter Luong Xuan Doan, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association (third from right) at the ceremony to verify the large-scale lacquer work that achieved the Guinness World Record "Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence".

It can be affirmed that the lacquer painting “Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence” is not only a work of art but also a cultural work with many meaningful spiritual values. Young artist Chu Nhat Quang has used art to pay tribute to history, to the previous generation, and to arouse love for the Fatherland in today's youth.

Witnessing that spirit, poet Nguyen Khoa Diem, former member of the Politburo, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, former Head of the Central Ideology and Culture Committee commented: “This is a positive search by a young artist, both in terms of materials and themes. A large-scale lacquer painting of Uncle Ho is extremely difficult, requiring talent, effort and dedication. The international recognition of this work is a common joy for Vietnamese artists and art lovers.”

This is a young artist’s active search, both in terms of materials and subject matter. A large lacquer painting of Uncle Ho is extremely difficult, requiring talent, effort and dedication. The international recognition of this work is a common joy for Vietnamese artists and art lovers.

Poet Nguyen Khoa Diem

Along with two large-scale lacquer painting exhibitions “Sacred Marks” at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in 2024 and “Independence Spring” at Ho Chi Minh Museum (Hanoi) and the recently confirmed Guinness World Record, young artist Chu Nhat Quang has also continuously made his professional mark at prestigious events. In early October, at the 18th “Bui Xuan Phai - For the Love of Hanoi” Award ceremony, Chu Nhat Quang continued to be recognized when his series of lacquer paintings in the two exhibitions “Sacred Marks” and “Independence Spring” were named among 11 excellent nominated works.

Among those works, the painting “Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence” is the central work of the exhibition “Independence Spring”. If “Sacred Mark” deeply depicts the image of national heritage values, carrying profound philosophical meaning, “Independence Spring” with the central work “Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence” opens up a deeper and brighter emotional space when the artist devotes all his heart to honoring the image of President Ho Chi Minh and the revolutionary spring of the nation, the spring of faith, freedom and aspiration of the Vietnamese people.

Opening on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of National Day September 2, the exhibition “Independence Spring” with the work “Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence” attracted the attention of experts and the public with tens of thousands of visitors, becoming a highlight of the exhibition, connecting emotions between the heroic past and the proud present of the nation.

Painter Chu Nhat Quang at the Bui Xuan Phai - For the Love of Hanoi 2025 award ceremony.

Evaluating the exhibition and the work "Uncle Ho reading the Declaration of Independence", Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission Dinh Thi Mai affirmed: The exhibition has deep historical and humanistic values, contributing significantly to the work of propaganda, educating revolutionary traditions, fostering patriotism and national pride for cadres, Party members and people, especially the young generation.

It can be said that this is a testament to the enduring vitality of national art when it is continued and developed by a generation of young artists, while affirming the role of fine arts in spreading the values ​​of independence, freedom and the desire for peace, becoming a proud symbol of the creative spirit and the aspiration to bring Vietnamese art to the world.

TIEN CUONG-HOAI THU

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tac-pham-bac-ho-doc-tuyen-ngon-doc-lap-ky-luc-dang-tu-hao-cua-son-mai-viet-nam-post914594.html