Lacquer painting Meo Von Nhau by Vietnamese artist Nguyen Sang was sold at 101,000 USD, a record price, at the 6th session of Chon’s Auction House in the capital city (Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – “Meo von nhau” (Two
cats), a 1979 lacquer painting by Vietnamese artist Nguyen Sang, has fetched 101,000
USD at the 6th session of Chon’s Auction House in the capital city.
It is the first time an artwork has been sold for over 100,000
USD at a domestic auction event.
The 60x72cm painting belonged to art collector Pham Van Thong,
who purchased it at Christie’s Asia. Its initial auction price was 41,000 USD,
also a record for a domestic auction event.
Works by artist Nguyen Trong Kiem were also sold at high
prices at the event, including Duong lang (12,000 USD), Mai
chua Huong (12,000 USD) and Pho mua (10,000 USD).
According to information on Chon’s Auction House’s official
Facebook page, the total value of paintings by artist Nguyen Sang being
internationally traded witnessed an increase and their average price also went
up dramatically in 2016. They have received high evaluation from international
collectors and specialists, leading to a dramatic increase in the demand in
recent years.
Nguyen Sang (1923-1988) ranks among the four most influential
painters in 20th century Vietnam, along with Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988), Duong
Bich Lien (1924-1988) and Nguyen Tu Nghiem (1922-2016). Sang was most
successful with lacquer paintings, presenting an ingenious manipulation of the
craft’s traditional methods to produce a modern twist on the ancient art form.
“Two cats” was a
breakthrough in Sang’s career, considered the most influential among his later
works. The painting conceals many layers of meaning while imbibing the spirit
of the East. In the painting, the two cats, in the position
of tigers, stand against each other and form a closed circle. In contrast to
the smooth aesthetic effect that other ornamental lacquer painters strive to
achieve with their work, Sang breaks the rules of what is expected from lacquer
art, and instead presents a highly textured, expressive view of the artist’s
creative eye and imaginative world.-VNA