A corner of the 5th exhibition by Son Ta Group that kicked off on June 1. (Photo courtesy of Son Ta Group)

The fifth exhibition of Son Ta Group, which is dedicated to the traditional Vietnamese lacquer painting, will feature works by 18 painters like Tran Ngoc Anh, Tran Dinh Binh and Chu Viet Cuong. Despite following different styles, all of them want to preserve traditional lacquer materials and painting techniques.

At the exhibition this year, they have exploited the expressiveness of traditional lacquer while still preserving the glossiness, smoothness and depth-effect of the materials.

Lacquer is thought to be difficult to use to evoke softness, generosity and constant emotion like other materials due to the particular characteristics of the material and techniques; therefore, lacquer painters are limited in their artistic intentions and style.

However, the exhibition has demonstrated their efforts in overcoming this to create new modern visual impressions with the traditional Vietnamese art form.

Another interesting feature of the event is that the painters have used the profound effect of lacquer painting to convey their inner feelings combined with various themes in the works portraying nature or young ladies.

Son Ta Group was established in April 2013 by painter Nguyen Viet Duc. The first project of the group, which gathered 50 lacquer painters, was held with artisans from Ha Thai and Chuyen My craft villages. After that, 30 works were selected for the exhibition in Russia in 2014 during the Vietnam– Russia cultural day. The second exhibition was held in 2015, covering more open topics and diversified styles.

The third exhibition in 2016 of the group was highly appreciated by President of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association Tran Khanh Chuong. At their fourth exhibition in October 2018, entitled Lam (Deep Blue), the painters pushed their limits by having their artworks coloured with shades of blue, the most difficult colour in traditional lacquer which is rarely used nowadays.

The event will run until June 8./.VNA