Ho Huu Thu: An artist painting the dreamscape in tranquil silence
Famous in the painting fine arts of Saigon before 1975, artist Ho Huu Thu still painstakingly and seriously creating artworks in a “meditation mind” – a special and rare consciousness in contemporary Vietnamese fine art. In particular, the artist has achieved many achievements in the field of abstract lacquer paintings, which conquering grumpy art lovers and artistic experts both domestically and abroad. Ho Huu Thu once said: “Painting is a game of a serene soul full of truth and expresses through the magical linguistics of people are owing, are aspiring, it is the pure seal that opens up that surprise us in passion.”
About artist Ho Huu Thu
Ho Huu Thu (1940–2024) was born in Nghe An and graduated from National Fine Art College of Saigon in 1965. He was an active member of the Association of Young Artists of Saigon and worked as a professor at the Vietnam National Fine Art College of Saigon prior to 1975. Over his career, Ho Huu Thu mounted 15 solo exhibitions and displayed his works internationally in countries including France, Canada, Germany, and Singapore. Appearing regularly at major auctions, he was awarded the ESSO Silver Prize in 1959 and later secured Second Prize at the National Fine Art Competition in 1990. His paintings have featured in galleries across Singapore, France, Japan, Malaysia, the US, and beyond.
Ho Huu Thu’s deep connection with lacquer painting was nurtured through his academic training and years spent researching this traditional medium. Although originally trained in oil painting, he constantly experimented with lacquer, developing a flexible practice across both materials. Instead of treating lacquer as a medium bound by shiny, flat surfaces and fixed conventions, Ho Huu Thu sought to push material boundaries, once proposing the term “synthesized Vietnamese lacquer” to highlight this adaptable spirit. Through experimentation and innovation, he created works that preserved the contemplative qualities of tradition while embracing the freedom of modern art.
Ho Huu Thu’s artistic journey has shifted from surreal, romantic influences to a distilled abstract language. His paintings are often stripped of superfluous detail, focusing instead on a few evocative forms: women, lotus flowers, the moon, or figures suspended between reverie and reality. These motifs may appear alone, side by side, or fused into a singular composition rich in allusion.
Ho Huu Thu with one of his paintings
Ho Huu Thu: Bringing dreamlike serenity into a quiet pictorial universe
Famous in the painting fine arts of Saigon before 1975, artist Ho Huu Thu still painstakingly and seriously creating artworks in a “meditation mind” – a special and rare consciousness in contemporary Vietnamese fine art. In particular, the artist has achieved many achievements in the field of abstract lacquer paintings, which conquering grumpy art lovers and artistic experts both domestically and abroad. Ho Huu Thu once said: “Painting is a game of a serene soul full of truth and expresses through the magical linguistics of people are owing, are aspiring, it is the pure seal that opens up that surprise us in passion “
For this rare talented artist, he said that he came to the painting as a spiritual emancipation, the art world he built and that it needed to reach was the world with full of transcendence, sublimation and aestheticism. Therefore in the world of his paintings, we just can see some details, objects, or images , on the other hand, the artist concentrates mainly on drawing few objects but evoking many associations, especially it is the surreal painting style and typical meditative mind of artist Ho Huu Thu in particular and Oriental painting style in general. In his paintings, the familiar motif is the woman – the lotus – the moon, sometimes appearing alone, or in pairs or all three of them forming a movable substitute in the original art named Hồ Hữu Thủ. The girls in paintings of Hồ Hữu Thủ appearing with a lot of postures, sometimes gravitate, sometimes lulling, sometimes lonely and strangely mysterious.
On the creative art paths, there are many artists embracing reality to nourish the soul but some people also let the virtual dream pour out to nourish the soul. The artist Ho Huu Thu is in the second case. Moreover, many paintings reflect the hardships of the souls, the choking cries of love have been blown out but there are many paintings as the eternal destination of music and poetry, reflecting a soul as the domain occupies harmony for virtual dreams. Ho Huu Thu is also in the second case.
His virtual world has made his art lover have more artistic ideas, unique, which breaks normal and popular artistic regulations to reach the special Meditation realm. Many people claim that the illusory realm in Ho Huu Thu’s paintings is a version of his soul, as true and natural as the empty self-nature of a person who himself giving up his ego and individuality to find the quiet status, where the source of all creativity is aroused. So what are the factors making a virtual dream in the art world of Ho Huu Thu? It is the process of forming an unconscious language through the eyes of painter’s soul, here the reality is denied to have all the lines, the mind is not the place to stay, and there are only fades making dreams and dreams have transformed into music feature and poetry feature.
A closer look at selected works by Ho Huu Thu
Young lady and lotus
In the oil painting “Young lady and lotus”, measuring 100 x 100 cm, two recurring motifs in Ho Huu Thu’s oeuvre appear in harmony. The woman symbolizes human beauty, while the lotus stands for natural elegance. The painting’s special allure lies in the subtle opposition of motion: the lotus petals seem swept in one direction by an unseen breeze, while the woman walks against the flow. This contrast evokes not only delicacy and grace but also confidence, inner strength, and captivating vitality.
The delicate yet resolute beauty in “Young lady and lotus” by Ho Huu Thu
Echoes of happiness
With its expansive 100 x 200 cm format, “Echoes of happiness” offers a broader visual field than most of Ho Huu Thu’s square canvases. Here, serene young women close their eyes in quiet contemplation, surrounded by flowers, musical instruments, and layers of intertwining color. The scene drifts between dream and reality, creating an atmosphere that is both surreal and enchanted. One feels humanity surrendering to moments of pure serenity, allowing the joy of happiness to linger and reverberate quietly, like a distant melody.
“Echoes of happiness” - Oil on canvas, 100 x 200 cm
Moon season
“Moon season” is a 100 x 100 cm oil painting by Ho Huu Thu. Rather than representing the moon with strict realism, he employs subtle gradations of color to emulate moonlight and illuminate feminine beauty. An ethereal radiance envelops the entire scene, conjuring a sense of depth and mystery akin to the universe awash in moonlight. In this space, the woman's presence is delicate, pure, yet undiminished - she embodies both the profoundness of night and a sense of eternity. This artwork inspires nuanced emotion, drawing viewers closer to the inner purity and quiet strength of the feminine form.
The moon’s radiance reflecting the beauty of women in “Moon season” by Ho Huu Thu
Charming girl
Another oil painting in a square format (100 x 100 cm), “Charming girl” again features the iconic Vietnamese woman in a traditional ao dai. Here, her allure stands out, elevated by the artist’s refined sense for color. Against a deep, dark blue background, her vibrancy and charm shine. The strong Asian aesthetic, enhanced by the flowers she holds, results in a composition that is both soft and elegant - at once alluring and emotionally evocative.
Contemplating the enigmatic beauty captured in “Charming girl” by Ho Huu Thu
To fully appreciate the nuances of color, textural qualities, and tranquil silence characteristic of Ho Huu Thu’s work, art lovers are invited to explore the collection at Green Palm Gallery.