Biography

In the early 1990s, the reputable artists at the time were considered the Golden Generation of Vietnam’s Contemporary Arts. However, few people knew that the 1980s generation of artists laid the foundation for Doi Moi Arts in terms of cultural perspective, ideology, and aesthetic sense for the artworks. Thanh Chuong is one of these artists whose artistic story is still topical today.

Thanh Chuong (b.1949) began painting at the age of seven and entered the Fine Arts College in 1960. During the war, he served as an engineer, and when the war ended Chuong started working for the Literature & Art Weekly Magazine in Vietnam. His paintings are most often executed as lacquer on board, or sometimes as oil on canvas or pastel on paper. The bright-colored works are clearly inspired by cubism and Picasso's paintings in particular. Some of his paintings have been chosen to be printed both as UNICEF cards as well as stamps. He has participated in several solo and group exhibitions, both in Vietnam and abroad. Exhibitions abroad were held in Czechoslovakia (1974), China (1994), Hong Kong (1994, 1997), Britain (1995, 2001), Denmark (1995), Japan (1995, 1997, 1999), Korea (1996, 1999), Singapore (1997), Netherlands (1997), Germany (1998), and USA (1998, 2001).

1949: Born in Bacninh Province, Vietnam. Began painting at the age of 7 (with his work Alubber Cork, won the gold prize in a painting competition for international children)

1960: entered Ha Noi Fine Art College.

1966: joined the Army, in military engineering force, participated in battlefields of Central Part, Laos, Central Highland

1974: worked as a painter for Thong Nhat Journal

1975: worked as the main painter for Van Nghe Weekly (The Weekly Journal of Art and Literature- The Writers Association of Viet Nam)

2010-2014: Worked at Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Executive of the Vietnam Fine Art Association.

President of Art committee of drawing speciality.

Head of Centre inspection of Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Executive of National Art Committee.

Awards

2001: Prize Award from the United Nations, one of the six International artists to be chosen for International Stamp

1994: 2nd Class prize of National Graphics at The Vietnam Plastic Artist Association.

1984: Award the 1st prize for illustrations by Van Nghe the Literature and Art Magazine.

1980: Award 1st Class prize for illustrations by Van Nghe in the Literature and Art Magazine.

1974: Prize of International Graphics in Czechoslovakia.

1973: 3rd Class Prize of Hanoi Fine Arts Exhibition.

Exhibitions

2016: Exhibition “People – paintings on old newspaper”

2015: Exhibition “A Voyage”, Berlin, Germany

2015: Group exhibition "Gems of Vietnam", London by Hanoi Art House UK

2012: Exhibition of “Vietnam-India Fine Arts”, Vietnam

2012 – 2014: Solo exhibitions in “Thanh Chuong Viet Palace”.

2011: Exhibition of “Vietnam Scenery and Spirit”, Korea

2009 - 2010: Participate in various exhibitions in Vietnam and overseas.

2008: Exhibition in Hanoi Fine Art Museum

2007: “Good morning Vietnam, Good morning Korea “Art Exhibition – Samsung Cultural Exchange Centre, Seoul Korea

2006: Solo Exhibition – consulate of Vietnam, San Fransisco, USA

Group Exhibition – Victoriano Palazo, Rome, Italia

Completed his biggest artwork – an installation, a live museum named “Thanh Chuong Viet Nam’s Art Soul”

2002: Group Exhibition – Jakarta, Malaysia

Group Exhibition – Belgium

2001: The painting “Lover” was chosen by the United Nations to make a stamp and symbol for the Year of Volunteers.

2000: Exhibition in Switzerland

1999: “Celebration of Life” – London, England

''Exhibition of intonations – Korea''

“The color of Vietnam” – New World hotel, Vinh Loi Gallery, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam''

“The 4th Vietnamese Contemporary Art Exhibition – Art U Gallery, Osaka Japan''

'The Exhibition Vietnamese Painting – Seoul Korea''

''Two contemporary Vietnamese painters Exhibition – Katkamasu & Tokyo, Japan''

“The lacquer world of Thanh Chuong” – Nam Son Gallery Hanoi''

“Thanh Chuong’s lacquer painting” – Art U, Osaka, Japan''

1998: Exhibition “With Heart & Soul & Mind” – World Art Centre, SoHo, NewYork

“Vision from Hanoi” – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

“Vietnamese sensibility” – Germany

“Vision from Vietnam” – Prudential’s collection

Five contemporary Vietnamese Painters -Vinh Loi Art Gallery, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

1997: Exhibition “A moment from Ha Noi”, Duc Minh Gallery. Ho Chi Minh city, Viet Nam

''Exhibition “The changing face of Hanoi” – Hong Kong''

“Viet Nam selectin” – Nam Son Gallery, Hanoi''

“Contemporary Art in Hanoi” – Hanoi & Osaka, Japan''

“Aspiration” – Daewoo hotel, Hanoi & Nam son Gallery, Ha noi''

“Thanh Chuong’s paintings”, Viet Nam gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

“Vietnamese Sensibility”, Hien Minh Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

“Gold paintbrush” – Faber Foundation, Castell, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

“Nostalgia – Sofitel Metropole Hotel & Red River Gallery, Ha Noi''

“A new morning”, the Hanoi Fine Arts College.''

1996: '' Exhibition of Hanoi Painting- Centre of Introduction and Change for Arts in Hanoi''

'' Ten Hanoi’s Artists Exhibition – Nam Son gallery. Hanoi''

1995: Exhibition of Viet Nam Contemporary Art, Royal College of art, London, England.

'' Exhibition “Viet Nam open” – Copenhagen, Denmark''

'' Exhibition of paintings, Yokohama, Japan''

1994: Painting exhibition China Asian art, painting Exhibition in Hong Kong, the second prize for Graphics by the Plastic Artists Association of Viet Nam Solo painting Exhibition- Red River Gallery, Ha Noi.

1988: Ha Noi artist painting Exhibition – Hanoi Fine Art Museum

1987: Ha Noi artist Group painting Exhibition

1985: National painting exhibition in Ha Noi

1974: Exhibition of illustrations for Publications in Ha Noi

1973: The third prize of the Ha Noi painting exhibition.

1956: The first work Alubber Cork, won the gold prize in a painting competition for international children