Bui Huu Hung (b. 1957, Hanoi, Vietnam) is a leading Vietnamese lacquer artist, internationally recognised for his distinctive approach to the traditional art of Vietnamese lacquer painting.

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Hung developed an interest in lacquer at the age of eighteen. Early in his career, he travelled to traditional workshops in Hanoi and surrounding rural areas, studying directly with experienced lacquer artisans and learning the techniques that have been passed down through generations. He later graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, where he continued to develop his understanding of the medium.

 

Lacquer has remained at the heart of Hung's artistic practice throughout his career. While deeply rooted in traditional Vietnamese techniques, his approach is distinctly contemporary. He has developed his own methods of working with lacquer, experimenting with surfaces, layering, colour and gold leaf to create paintings with exceptional depth and luminosity. His work is known for its meticulous detail and richly developed surfaces, in which light appears to emerge from within the layers of lacquer.

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Hung is perhaps best known for his Royal Lady series, in which elegant female figures appear in richly decorated traditional costumes against highly ornamental backgrounds. His subjects often evoke the world of Vietnam's imperial and aristocratic past, while remaining distinctly contemporary in their composition and treatment.

The women in his paintings are presented with a quiet, self-possessed presence. Their expressions are restrained and contemplative, while the intricate patterns of their clothing and surroundings create a strong sense of richness and ceremony. Gold leaf plays an important role in many of these works, catching and reflecting light across the lacquer surface and enhancing the depth of the composition.

 

Alongside his figurative work, Hung has explored still life, landscape and abstraction. His earlier lacquer paintings include landscapes and abstract compositions, and his practice has continued to evolve beyond traditional subject matter. This breadth reflects his interest in extending the possibilities of lacquer while preserving the distinctive qualities of the Vietnamese medium.

 

Hung's international career began early. His lacquer landscapes were exhibited in Warsaw in 1982, followed by a presentation of his still-life work in Sofia in 1983. In 1993, he participated in Art Spring at the Alliance Française in Hanoi. His first solo exhibition was held at the Australian Cultural Centre in Hanoi in 1995, after which his work was exhibited extensively in Vietnam and internationally.

 

Since the 1990s, Hung has exhibited in Europe, Asia and the United States, including exhibitions in London, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, Miami and Dubai. His work is represented in public, institutional, corporate and private collections internationally. These include the Singapore Art Museum, the Museum of Sydney, the University of Brussels and collections associated with Vietnamese diplomatic institutions.

 

Hung is a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and has been a member of the International Association of Lacquer Painters since 1996.

Today, Bui Huu Hung remains an important figure in Vietnamese lacquer painting. His work combines the discipline and craftsmanship of traditional lacquer with a highly personal visual language, creating paintings that connect Vietnam's cultural heritage with contemporary artistic expression.

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