Artist honors the beauty of Ao Dai and Vietnamese landscapes through lacquer art

This article introduces artist Tran Lang, who dedicated over 30 years to the Vietnam Animation Studio but is widely known for his lacquer paintings that embody a distinct Vietnamese identity. Born into a family with a tradition of lacquer art, he chooses to depict young women in ao dai, the Old Quarter of Hanoi, rural villages, and mountainous landscapes, contributing to the celebration of national cultural beauty. Using traditional Vietnamese lacquer combined with modern artistic sensibilities, he creates works of great depth through techniques such as multi-layer sanding, gold and silver leaf application, and eggshell and mother-of-pearl inlay. Tran Lang believes that lacquer art requires patience, imagination, and high-level craftsmanship, which are precisely what give this art form its unique value. He observes that Vietnamese lacquer art is experiencing a strong revival in the international market, and he aspires to continue preserving and promoting this traditional medium while striving toward the artistic standards set by the masters who came before him.