Ngoc was born in Hanoi in 1982, to well known artist Dang Xuan Hoa and graphic designer Do Thuy Hang. It was clear from a young age that her love for art was destined to lead her to a career as a painter. It was only when she turned eighteen and had to think seriously about applying to university that she had to make the difficult decision about whether to become a professional artist or just to continue to paint for her own enjoyment. She says that this was one of the most difficult decisions of her young life. Fortunately, she decided to attend the Hanoi Fine Arts University where she has just completed her third year.
When asked about growing up in such a famous family, Ngoc fondly remembered conversations with her father about art and many other topics. He taught her to paint and what makes paintings beautiful, but now painting is not a game as it was when she was a child and now she must find her own voice.
I learned a lot from my father and the way he works. He works very hard and always keeps an open mind not just about art but about other cultures and new ideas in art. I learned the way he thinks but now I must learn my own style.
I am my father’s daughter but his life is different from me now. His childhood experiences were different. It is hard to compare us because of these different childhoods. My paintings are different because I think differently.
Ngoc’s paintings are about the life around her. She feels that life around her is changing very fast, maybe even too fast. Her visits to the countryside have been a very strong influence on her thinking and her recent art work. She is concerned that life in the city that she loves deeply may be becoming too impersonal. She can see the simple yet intimate life of the peasants in the countryside. People there care deeply about each other but has that been lost in the city? She knows that she needs to live in the city but yearns for the simple and close relationships of the people living in the countryside.
When asked what she feels is the biggest challenge faced by young artists in Vietnam today, Ngoc quickly replied that understanding life clearly was the biggest problem.
Art comes from life. For young artists, as well as old artists, if we want to work well, we must first understand clearly about our lives and work hard to find the answers. Many young artists work hard today but the answers are very difficult to find.
Ngoc is fascinated by the conversations of the older women around her. Wherever she goes she listens carefully as they tell stories about their children, husbands, and the difficulties and joys of their lives. She cares deeply about these women and their stories and often sees herself and her future in the stories told by these old women. She has even kept a diary for the past ten years recording many of these stories.
Although only a forth year art school student, Ngoc is a mature, sensitive young woman whose work shows a maturity far beyond her 21 years. It will be interesting to see her work in another ten or twenty years.
Click on image below to see larger picture
.
IAP Home Page • About the IAP • Artists • Exhibitions • Sister School Program
Back to the source • IAP Vietnam Trips • Hanoi Contemporary Arts Center
Favorite Links • Calendar of Events