Vietnamese Artist Truong Dinh Hao

Graduated from Ha Noi Fine Arts College (In-Service Training)

Hao: "After graduating at the top of my class from the Fine Art College of Ha Noi 1973-1978, I was sent to a remote mountain to develop the color scheme of the uniforms for traditional theatre group. For 9 years I could not sell a single painting because my style was not convincing enough for the local.

In 1990 I was allowed to return to Ha Noi. Twelve years since graduatio
I was able to host my first exhibition.

Because I was not a member of the Fine Art Association of Vietnam I did not have the privileges nor money to buy painting papers. Therefore I found a new way to express my feeling: I went to the market to collect old newspapers. Each page from the newspaper gave me the inspiration to create. Overtimes the special paper, together with various images, re-energized my creative power. I painted my thoughts, the lives in rural villages around me and my perspective of the world. It was very difficult to deliver my work to Vietnamese collectors. Some even laughed at me: “10 Hao is only 1 dong (dong is the smallest Vietnamese currency)”I did not want to give up, spent nights and days on my work because I know that in my desperate situation, to stop drawing, to stop working would eventually lead to the demise of my body and my soul. It is fair to say that the times I spent on my work strengthen my steps in life.

I believed that sooner or later people would understand me, love my work ...”

Hao is an artist who has never lost the courage to take control of his fate, and who was always the master of his creative power.

In 1998 Hao made it into the list of the Leading Artist during the Reform period.