Artist Nguyen Tan Phat – Vietnamese Lacquer Artworks – Nguyen Art Gallery

The Journey into Art

Artisan–Painter Nguyễn Tấn Phát was born into a family with a strong tradition and passion for the fine arts, which nurtured in him an early love for painting. After completing high school, he pursued a major in lacquer art at the University of Industrial Fine Arts, while also working at well-known handicraft shops in Hanoi’s Old Quarter to hone his craftsmanship. Not stopping there, he sought out the Hạ Thái craft village (Thường Tín District, Hanoi) to learn directly from veteran artisans, accumulating valuable practical knowledge and experience. To date, he has devoted more than 21 years to the art of lacquer.

Nguyễn Tấn Phát does not merely paint what the eye sees, but what his soul feels. For this reason, his works—especially his portraits—carry profound inner depth, creating a haunting and powerful emotional resonance for viewers. Within each line and layer of lacquer, one can sense the richness of lived experience, intense emotion, and philosophical reflections on humanity and life.

“Lacquer is one of the most authentically Vietnamese painting materials. It represents the exploration and development of traditional lacquer craft techniques (natural lacquer) into the art of lacquer painting. Beyond the lacquer layers on the surface, lacquer art also requires special adhesive compounds passed down through generations. Because of my love for this pure Vietnamese essence, I often incorporate characteristic materials such as eggshell, coconut shell, laterite stone, jackfruit wood, and more as distinctive elements in my works. The more carefully selected the materials and the more meticulous the creative process, the greater the value of the finished piece. In addition, I weave stories of Vietnamese culture into my works, so that each piece is not merely a product of aesthetic refinement, but also carries the spirit and soul of Vietnam.”