Quang San Museum of Art Unveils Vietnam's "Mona Lisa" by Mai Trung Thu

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The exhibition takes visitors back to the Indochina period (1925-1945), a defining era in the history of Vietnamese fine arts. This was a time of profound cultural exchange and experimentation, where traditional Eastern aesthetics met Western academic techniques. Founded in 1925 under the leadership of Victor Tardieu, the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine laid the foundation for formal art education in Vietnam based on European principles.

The highlight of this exhibition is the painting "Mona Lisa" by artist Mai Trung Thu (Photo: SGDP)

Rather than simply adopting European academic models, the school quickly became a fertile ground for both teachers and students to experiment with indigenous materials such as lacquer, silk, and woodblock printing. These explorations, alongside influences from France, China, and Japan, contributed to the emergence of a distinctly Vietnamese artistic identity - marked by an aesthetic pursuit of beauty through the fusion of Eastern sensibilities and Western technique.

A highlight of the exhibition is Mona Lisa (1974) by Vietnamese painter Mai Trung Thu. Painted when the artist was 68, this work is his third and most ambitious interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic masterpiece. While a derivative piece, it stands out not for imitation, but for its cultural translation, an East-West dialogue that both pays homage to the Renaissance spirit and affirms a Vietnamese identity.

Visitors at the special exhibition (Photo: SGGP)

In Mai Trung Thu’s version, the figure dons a traditional ao dai and is set against a misty backdrop evocative of Ha Long Bay. Her jet-black hair is gently veiled by a translucent green scarf, blending softly into the mountainous background. Her hands are composed in a graceful pose characteristic of Eastern portraiture.

Painted on silk-one of the artist’s favorite mediums, the work exudes a light, atmospheric quality. The material lends emotional depth and becomes a visual counterpoint to the oil painting tradition dominant in Western portraiture.

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