“The Palm Tree in God's Hand”

Having been attached to the army since his early days of writing, he used his brush to capture the authentic moments of war, depicting the lives of soldiers and glorifying the beauty of the Vietnamese people in important moments of history. With a unique, national artistic style, both familiar and profound, painter Pham Luc has left a deep impression on the hearts of art lovers.

The source of talent

Born in his paternal hometown, the ancient capital of Hue, rich in cultural traditions, Pham Luc spent his entire childhood in his maternal hometown of Tien Dien, Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh. His father, Pham Khac Hieu, was a mandarin in the Nguyen Dynasty. Before the August Revolution in 1945, he was appointed as the District Chief of Nghi Xuan. It was in this land that he fell in love with a local girl, and Pham Luc was the third son of his parents.

Since childhood, Pham Luc showed his talent for painting. He "craved" to draw so much that whenever he had a piece of charcoal, a stone or a stick in his hand, he would scribble on anything, the ground, the floor, the walls of his house, and even the walls of his neighbors' houses. Luc's childish paintings made many people excited, some even came to his house just to watch him draw. Thanks to his skillful drawing, Pham Luc became a special student in the eyes of his teachers. After graduating from high school, in 1959 he passed the entrance exam to the Hanoi College of Fine Arts. He graduated as valedictorian in 1962, ten years later, in 1972, he continued to study at the Hanoi University of Fine Arts (now the Vietnam University of Fine Arts) and graduated in 1977.

Painter Pham Luc emotionally recalls his childhood days in his mother's hometown: "Hearing the elders tell it, when I was three years old I still couldn't speak, but I loved to hang around and play in places with sand and dirt to draw... Perhaps my passion for painting was kindled very early in me. Thirty-five years in the army helped me practice my ability to paint on many different materials, from paper, sacks, to anything that could be painted. My paintings are now countless. Perhaps that's why most people only know me as a painter, few people know that my mother, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Chuong, is the great-granddaughter of our great-grandfather Nguyen Du. In fact, I am his great-granddaughter."

When artists are also soldiers

During his many years of service in the army, artist Pham Luc has left his footprints on many historical sites associated with the fiercest moments of the war such as Ham Rong Bridge, the 17th parallel, the Ho Chi Minh trail and even a field trip to Saigon right after the liberation day in 1975. Directly witnessing and feeling the fierce reality of the battlefield has helped Pham Luc create many works on the subject of war.

Work — The work "Waiting for my child to come home".

During his time in the army, experiencing many different war zones, lacking materials, Pham Luc created by drawing on sacks, using materials such as colored chalk, lime powder and even toothpaste to create white. These works not only truly reflect the life and fighting of soldiers, but also demonstrate his creativity and spirit of overcoming difficulties.

Pham Luc's paintings of soldiers deeply reflect his personal experiences during the war years. The daily life of soldiers and female militiamen appears rustic and simple through works such as "Bathing together", "Reading letters from home to friends", "Sleeping after duty", "Female militiamen harvesting rice", "Offering water to soldiers"... Besides, he devoted much effort to recreating fierce battles and important campaigns through strong and dramatic drawings: "Battle of Ham Rong", "Army soldiers crossing Truong Son", "Liberating Saigon", "Warrior mother"... Another theme he successfully expressed was the camaraderie and spiritual life of soldiers through a series of emotional paintings such as "Quan ho to Truong Son", "Comb hair for comrades", "Peaceful sleep"... In particular, Pham Luc did not avoid the dark side of war, but faced and deeply portrayed the pain and loss through works rich in humanity such as "Anh oi, dung chet!", "Gio chong", "Hai anh thuong binh", "Tien chong ra tran"..., as a reminder silently but hauntingly reminding of the sacred value of peace.

Painter Pham Luc was discharged from the army with the rank of Colonel. His time in the army and serving as a military painter provided him with endless inspiration and helped him develop his own unique artistic style, contributing to making Pham Luc famous in the Vietnamese fine arts scene.

"National Artist"

Painter Pham Luc is affectionately and respectfully called “the national painter” by many art lovers because of his talent, personality and widespread influence. Pham Luc is not simply a painter, he is a storyteller of Vietnamese history through painting. From the image of a soldier in the great resistance war of the nation to a hard-working mother, a simple villager, to everyday moments, all are portrayed by him with emotional and realistic strokes.

It is the richness in color and mood that always highlights the beauty of any subject that makes Pham Luc's paintings always attract art lovers and collectors. Not only famous for the military and wartime themes, Pham Luc's paintings are sought after by art lovers in all the themes he touches: Vietnamese cultural traditions, Hanoi landscapes, still life and landscapes, the beauty of women, the beauty of workers, nudes, social issues... Some typical works include "Welcoming the Holy Mother of the Upper Realm", "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival", "Fake Battle", "Beloved Village", "Southern Countryside", "Fish Market by the River", "Fishing Village", "Old Quarter in Spring", "Cyclo on a Rainy Day", "Lyrical Hanoi", "Hanoi in Autumn", "Miss Lan", "Hardworking Mother", "Waiting for Her Child to Return", "Breastfeeding", "Carrying Her Child in the Plough", "Feeding Her Grandchild", "Following Her Mother", "Young Girl Bathing in a Pond Bridge"...

Despite being a famous painter, Pham Luc still lives a very humble and approachable life. He once said: "I paint for the people, not just for art critics". What is special is that he can paint anywhere, on any subject, on any material, from sacks, old newspapers, scrap paper, oil paint, gouache, lacquer, silk... and give paintings to people as a way of showing gratitude. He considers himself a person "exiled by heaven", having to paint every day, if he doesn't paint he gets sick. On average, he can paint 10 paintings a day, and on a good day he can paint more than that.

Pham Luc not only painted with skillful techniques but also with emotions and patriotism. With a free and spontaneous spirit, painting for him is capturing sudden emotions that come flooding in a state of ecstasy.

At the age of 80, he still painted every day, still struggling with each brushstroke like a person painting for the first time, only when he became so sick that he could not move did he accept to rest. His burning love and perseverance made him a living symbol of endless passion.

Painter Pham Luc is affectionately known as “Van Gogh and Picasso of Vietnam” because of his work and passion for creative exploration. He is the only Vietnamese painter to have an official Fan Club with more than 100 members at home and abroad, currently owning most of his collection of more than 6,000 works. One of the most passionate collectors of Pham Luc’s paintings is probably Dr. Nguyen Si Dung, former Deputy Head of the National Assembly Office. His collection of Pham Luc’s paintings has more than 1,000 pieces. Dr. Nguyen Si Dung wrote the 230-page book “The Brush Held by God” about the life and painting career of painter Pham Luc.

From April 18 to 24, 2025 at Aqua Art 44 Yen Phu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Ngoc Ha Art Collection Club in collaboration with collector Nguyen Si Dung organized an exhibition of works by painter Pham Luc and launched the book "The Palm Tree Held by God".

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/hoa-si-pham-luc-cay-co-duoc-chua-cam-tay-699400.html