The late painter Bui Xuan Phai – An artist with the great love for Hano

Painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988) is a well-known Vietnamese painter; especially he is famous for the oil paintings of Hanoi Old Quarters – which create a unique style called “Pho Phai” – Phai’s street. He is one of the artists who influence the orientation of modern Vietnamese art, also becomes one of the most prominent Southeast Asian artists in the 20th century.

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Pho Phai (Phai’s Street) – a spiritual life with a charming Hanoi old quarter

Bui Xuan Phai was one of the last generations of painters of Indochina Fine Arts College, along with Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Duong Bich Lien – those who have a great influence on the development of modern Vietnamese art. His specialties were oil painting and his favorite matter was Hanoi Old Quarter. His works – Pho Phai (Phai’s Street) are admired by art-loving people. 

When wandering out in the old quarter, he sometimes stopped to write down something. Bui Xuan Phai was rarely seen painting on the street; almost all the paintings were drawn from his memory. It can be seen that Hanoi was so familiar to him that drawing the street is just like chatting with a soul-mate. Perhaps because of that, His streetscapes are not only antique but realistic as well, successfully expresses the soul of Hanoi old quarter in the 50s, 60s, 70s. The color arrays in his paintings are deeply marked by bold borders, which makes both the painted surface and the surroundings convey an inner depth. Watching his streetscapes, viewers can sense his tender memories combined with sincere regrets and vague sorrow in every brushstroke, like a sign of the abrupt disappearance of roofs and people that themselves are the soul of the past. Bui Xuan Phai’s paintings are similar to his life. They realistically describe the temples, some familiar streets, undulating the dark tile shading on the road sign, a few girls in red walked as if they wanted to nestle in the alleys.

 

Bui Xuan Phai – an artist brought Vietnamese artistic inspiration to the world

Although Bui Xuan Phai’s style slightly reflected the Parisian Art that he admired, his artistic inspiration in each painting was Vietnamese. Through his works, not only Vietnamese but also foreigners are moved with Bui Xuan Phai’s inner feelings, making us forget the presence and influence of Western painting techniques. The charm from each painting, together with the sincerity of the painter, makes his masterpieces so Vietnamese. His works vividly convey the Vietnamese people’s soul, humanist character, love of freedom, humor, tragic and miserableness. 

For that same reason, on September 1, 2019, Google Doodle, a temporary logo on the Google homepage honored Bui Xuan Phai on the occasion of his 99th birth anniversary (1.9.1920-1.9.2019) with portraits of the artist based on the image of Hanoi Old Quarter. This is the second time a Vietnamese figure has been honored on the homepage of Google. Previously, Google Doodle honored late Vietnamese songwriter Trinh Cong Son for his 80th birthday. According to a representative of Google, this is a homage to the artist for his contribution to the development of modern Vietnamese art and the achievement in the art of Vietnam. 

A researcher and art critic, Phan Cam Thuong said that the unique talent of Bui Xuan Phai which helps him become widely loved and stay “immortal” in the hearts of art lovers. He was able to create “a very special sense of nostalgia for Hanoi” which no one has ever been able to beyond. 

Despite a difficult life, Bui Xuan Phai has steadily painted and created art with all his love. This artist has cast aside all everyday life’s struggles to create homely and simple, but deep-hearted works. He passed away on June 24, 1988, in Hanoi due to lung cancer. Despite his death, the story of his life and his works clinging to antique Hanoi still live on forever. 

 

                                                                                   By Nguyen Hung