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| “Ly ruou tran gian” (left) and “Mien que trong ky uc” (right) by Nguyen Phan |
In 2026, a series of events featuring the Nguyen Phan’s collection have been organized in his remembrance and gratitude by his family at Da Nang Museum of Fine Arts and in Ho Chi Minh City in May, and then in Hue City in August. Those events provide opportunities to introduce the painter’s life and career to the public so that they have a better understanding of an artist who had lots of contribution to life.
Nguyen Phan is the professional alias of Phan Ngoc Nam (1940–2010). He graduated from Hue National College of Fine Arts in 1961, and then completed the Art Education Program at Saigon National College of Fine Arts in Saigon. In 1965, he received a Silver Medal at an art exhibition in Rome, then a prestigious award. He then taught painting at several secondary schools in Central Vietnam. It was as if he was predestined to be a teacher. In the 1960s, he ran an art school in Hue, but the school didn’t last long. But his painting centers in Da Nang survived, training many young talents for the region. His stable teaching job became his livelihood, giving him peace of mind so that he could fully devote himself to art.
Nguyen Phan was the type who never remained in one place. He always yearned for something new and different. As a student, he displayed his own paintings, which was a taboo for students who were still at school at the time.
After 1975, he carried out numerous landscape projects and many memorials of high artistic value throughout Da Nang. Those constructions still exist today. When he got older, he moved to Ho Chi Minh City and continued with his creativity.
He worked prolifically. Many artworks came into being. Some are being kept by collectors in Vietnam and abroad; some are scattered here and there; just a small number remain in his family.
Previously, with the assistance of the Thua Thien Hue Union of Literature and Arts Associations (former) and the Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Center, his family used to display his works. This time in Hue City, the 30 artworks on display mark ‘his return to homeland’. The exhibition ‘Nguyen Phan - Homecoming’ was inaugurated on August 9th, 2026 at the Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Center in Hue City. On this occasion, the family will present one of his works to the Hue Museum of Fine Arts to enrich the museum collection.
With just a few of his works, the exhibition fails to show his entire career. But viewers can still feel the vitality and strength of his artistic expression. Each work embodies his emotion and thought. He went through every stage of his artistic journey smoothly with his flow of colors, which was natural and carefully calculated to every single centimeter of his paintings. There is no fury in his paintings. His moss-green color on the ancient wall in the ancient imperial capital, the deep blue color of the sky, even the bright red of the throne in the Imperial City are in harmony with the overall composition. His paintings are imbued with the gently charming spirit of Hue, though he was far away from Hue for a very long time.
This is a return to his homeland through feelings and memory, and with his works speaking on his behalf. It is as if he were still lingering somewhere in here, watching viewers who are standing in front of his works with sincerity and empathy, both seeking tranquility and confronting the lingering concerns of human existence. Perhaps he is presently very happy to see people come to behold his artworks. It is such a meaningful homecoming!