Artist Dang Thanh Huyen: 'Drawing portraits of loved ones is a journey to face memories'

Marks of maturity in art

Twenty years of painting, Dang Thanh Huyen has shaped her own style - a combination of realism and impressionism, emphasizing the inner self and emotions. From a little girl holding a paintbrush at the age of 5, to a famous painter in the Vietnamese fine arts scene, Dang Thanh Huyen's journey is a testament to her steadfast pursuit of passion.

Born in 1986 in Hanoi in a family with no artistic tradition, she graduated from the University of Industrial Fine Arts in 2008 and continued her Master's degree at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts in 2014. Through exhibitions such as Huong sac Ha Thanh, Nhip thoi gian, Be ve giac mo, Dang Thanh Huyen gradually affirmed her position in the painting community.

Artist Dang Thanh Huyen. Photo: Vov

This time, with Where Time Slows Down, the artist takes viewers into a space where colors and lines become the connecting thread of memories, helping us slow down in the midst of a busy life.

The highlight of the exhibition is a series of portraits of loved ones – a challenge that not every artist chooses. Painting a stranger’s face can allow freedom of feeling, but when recreating a loved one, each brushstroke carries a responsibility: how to maintain the spirit and emotion without falling into mechanical realism?

“When drawing a stranger, we only need to capture the general demeanor. But with a loved one, every line is associated with memories, with emotions, with understanding that has been built up over the years. That is a pressure – because with just a small change, the portrait can have a different nuance. But that challenge makes me appreciate each work more, because each painting is not only my story but also a part of the memories of the people I love the most," Dang Thanh Huyen shared.

In this exhibition, viewers not only see Huyen’s painting techniques but also feel every emotion in each work. These are not simple paintings, but slices of memories, moments of time preserved on canvas.

Art is not for sale, but for touching emotions.

Although many people collect her paintings, Dang Thanh Huyen does not consider commercialism as her main goal. She believes that painting is a way of telling stories, a way of sharing, rather than a product to sell.

“I don’t deny that paintings are collected, but for me, exhibitions are for sharing, for connecting emotions. If someone takes a painting home because they feel in tune with it, that is precious. But if you only paint to sell, the painting will lose its soul,” the artist said.

Painting by artist Dang Thanh Huyen. Photo: Vov

Currently, Dang Thanh Huyen lives in Nha Trang with her husband – businessman Dang Bao Hieu – and three children. Not only is she an artist, she is also the founder of an artistic silk scarf brand, where traditional handicraft, painting and material values ​​converge.

Busy as a mother, artist and businesswoman, she admits that it’s not always possible to balance everything. “Some days I do everything well, other days I feel clumsy. But the important thing is that I’m still happy when I paint, when I’m with my family, and when I’m sober enough to run my business.”

After "Where Time Slows Down", Dang Thanh Huyen continues with new projects, including plans to build a private art space - a place to connect artists, art lovers and the community.

“Each exhibition is not just an event, but a journey. I do not seek perfection, I just want to be myself – a person who lives wholeheartedly for art and the things I love,” the artist affirmed.

PV