HÀ NỘI — A series of paintings that have never been seen before by the late artist Phan Kế An (1923-2018) will go on display at an exhibition on March 11.

“Phan Kế An – Kho tang ẩn giấu” (Phan Kế An – Hidden Treasure) will take run until April 16 at the French Cultural Centre (L'Espace) in Ha Noi.

The event promises to give the public another perspective on the career and life of the famous painter through his unpublished works.

These artistic legacies include three lacquer paintings, one oil painting, one silk painting and a series of unique sketches from the second half of the 20th century. All of them have been carefully preserved by the family for many years to this day.

An’s studies at Repin Academy of Fine Arts of Russia will also be introduced, and visitors will have the opportunity to discuss them at a seminar held on the sidelines of the event.

Painter Vũ Đỗ, curator of the exhibition, told Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, Phan Kế An’s unpublished artworks are the highlight of the exhibition.

“They are hidden in documents found in the artist's residence and are unfinished works, but not because of that, losing their value,” he said.

Phan Kế An is one of the leading artists of Viet Nam, renowned for lacquer paintings and sketches of President Hồ Chí Minh.

He created paintings in various styles and mastered many materials, particularly lacquer and oil. His works portrayed reality, focusing on Viet Nam’s army leaders, resistance wars and daily activities of ethnic minorities living in the mountainous areas and lowlands in northern Viet Nam.

His most famous work is Nho Mot Chiều Tay Bắc, a lacquer painting made in the winter of 1950, when the artist joined the resistance war as a special envoy of the Sự Thật (Truth) newspaper. The painting inspired poet Đoan Viet Bắc to write a famous poem with the same title, which was also set to music by song composer Vũ Thanh. 

For his contributions to Vietnamese art, the painter received many State awards, including first-rate Resistance War Medal, Arts Devotion medal and State Awards for Literature and Arts in 2001. — VNS