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Bui Xuan
Phai was born in Hanoi in 1921 and passed away on 23rd June
1988.
He attended
the École des Beaux Arts d'Indochine which was established
by the French colonialists. They taught only painting techniques
and sculpturing during the first years at the Academy. It
was much later when traditional Vietnamese art forms such
as lacquer painting, silk painting and architecture were added
to the curriculum.
Phai died
without having experienced fame. He became known only in the
1990's when Vietnam emerged from its isolation. He lived his
life in poverty, and his talent was disregarded by his contemporaries.
He has gained a lot of recognition however, after his death.
His paintings
show simple lines, but the lines carry a message of a deeper
understanding. Many had compared his paintings to masterpieces
made by Picasso and Matisse. His representation of surfaces
seems to be as good as Marquet, and the sub-consciousness
as reflected in Hanoi street scenes is a reminiscence of Mondrian
and Klee.
The majority
of Phai's paintings are still in Hanoi with Vietnamese collectors.
Due to Phai's popularity, his paintings are now being sold
increasingly to collectors from abroad.
His works
can be found both locally and abroad including in Museums
in Hanoi, Russia, Poland, England, Holland, Belgium, Sweden,
Japan, Cuba, France, Germany, Hongkong and Singapore
Education
| 1941-46 |
Student at the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
de l'Indochine |
| Until
1957 |
Professor
at Hanoi College of Fine Arts
|
Exhibitions
|
1946
|
The National Fine Arts Exhibition |
|
1980
|
The National Fine Arts Exhibition |
|
1984
|
Solo Exhibition Hanoi |
Awards
| 1986 |
First
Prize International Illustrators Exhibition, Czechoslovakia |
| 1996 |
Ho
Chi Minh Award, granted by the President of the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam |
| 1946-99 |
7
Gold Medals The National Fine Arts Exhibition |
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