Nude paintings by artist Do Son: Women are beautiful when plump and relaxed

Painter Do Son is one of the prominent artists of the Renovation period, making his mark with his free-flowing brushstrokes and characteristically bright color palette, considered naive and instinctive but not naive at all.

Large painting by artist Do Son. (Photo: Minh Anh/Vietnam+)

Running from now until October 9 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum is the fifth solo exhibition of artist Do Son. He is considered a prominent name in the renovation period of Vietnamese painting, possessing an instinctive and liberal style, expressing optimism and love of beauty.

More than 90 paintings were brought to the exhibition in many genres from sketches, landscapes, nudes to abstracts. Among them, his nude paintings of naked women are the most prominent, many of which have been sold domestically and internationally, which the artist said was enough for him to "buy many houses."

Having pursued the nude theme for more than half a century, the artist wants to honor women as a source of inspiration for beauty. “For me, the beauty of women lies in their softness, sincerity, and simple features like a full body, not in perfection like in a photograph, because paintings are different from the naked truth. There must be art, emotion, and the support of beauty,” the artist shared.

Painter Do Son with relatives and friends at his solo exhibition.

Experts say that artist Do Son possesses an extremely powerful expressive language, especially in his nude paintings. The models he chooses mostly have a natural body shape: wide hips, slim waist, large breasts, most of them are in a daily activity or in a state of rest and relaxation.

“It is not only his aesthetic taste, it is also a great reason for him to be able to use expressive painting techniques in a very powerful way” - researcher Vu Huy Thong (Vietnam University of Fine Arts) commented - “With a full color palette, drawn almost directly from the color tubes, the artist does not need to pay attention to the light or the structure of the shapes, but still expresses the vitality of Vietnamese culture.”

Artist Do Son has been passionate about drawing since he was a child. He studied at the Vietnam College of Fine Arts (later the Vietnam University of Fine Arts) twice. The first time he graduated from the intermediate level (1961-1964) before joining the army; the second time after returning to Hanoi , the 5-year level (1973-1978), at the age of 30 when he already had a wife and children.

Paintings and sketches by the 82-year-old artist.

Experts say that during the Renovation period, in parallel with the quartet of famous painters Nghiem-Lien-Sang-Phai who had already established their identities, there were also names that gradually formed their own identities, separating from the mainstream and orthodox stream (socialist realism style), most of which still carried propaganda qualities.

According to researcher Vu Huy Thong, it is because of his creative instinct and love of exploring change that painter Do Son is recognized as one of the most prominent names in that new stream.

Painter Le Anh Van, former Principal of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, a classmate of painter Do Son, commented: “Since long ago, I have seen in him a very pure, free, and liberal painting personality, and his instincts and sense of color have created his own unique quality.

People say that his paintings are like children's, but to achieve such childishness in art, one must be at a high level," Mr. Anh Van assessed, stating that the artist is good at moderation, mastering the visual language and characteristic color palette.

To date, 8 of Do Son's paintings are in the collection of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and are also collected by many organizations and individuals in 26 countries and territories, notably the Singapore Fine Arts Museum, the collection of the Royal Family of Morocco, and the Mobil Company (USA).

Painter Do Son was born in 1943, his hometown is Yen Phong, Bac Ninh . During his career, he has many times won first, second, and third prizes in national art exhibitions, art exhibitions on the Armed Forces and Revolutionary War.

"Sea Flowers" - oil painting 140x150cm, from the collection of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

In 2016, he became a rare artist to be awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts for only one work (instead of a group of works) with the painting “Sea Flowers” ​​(1980) about the image of an island soldier. He is also the author of the famous painting “Mother’s Heart” (1994), which attracted attention thanks to its direct look at the pain of war with a simple and sincere writing style.

"Mother's Heart" - oil on canvas, from the collection of the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts.

Now at the age of 82, he is still diligently working at his easel despite his weaker health, continuing to inspire creativity and encourage the younger generation to seek and build their own style.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tranh-nuy-cua-hoa-sy-do-son-phu-nu-dep-khi-day-dan-va-thu-gian-post1068159.vnp