524. 524W Bui Huu Hung (Vietnamese, born 1957) Golden Light 2007 signed Bui Huu Hung (lower left) lacquer on wooden panel signed Bui Huu Hung (lower left) lacquer on wood panel 122 x 122 cm (48 x 48 in) The work's authenticity is verified by a certificate of authenticity issued by Apricot Gallery and dated 22 October 2007. Provenance Apricot Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2007 European private collection In the field of contemporary Vietnamese art, Bui Huu Hung stands as a beacon of both tradition and modernity. Born in 1957 in the cultural heart of Vietnam, Hanoi, Hung began his artistic journey at the age of 18, drawn to the ancient allure of lacquer painting. His search for authenticity led him to experience and engage with diverse aspects of Vietnam's rural life, where he immersed himself in the heritage of this intricate art form. Following his military service in 1978, Hung's quest for artistic excellence led him to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. There he refined and mastered the techniques of lacquer painting. The artist's use of gold foil in his paintings is not merely decorative. It imbues his work with a dynamic play of light, bringing textures and colours to life with a radiant glow. This technique, coupled with his innovative use of space, gives his subjects an ethereal quality, as if they existed beyond the temporal world. Bui Huu Hung's art is a bridge between the past and the present, a fusion of time-honoured methods and contemporary sensibilities. Through his paintings, he not only preserves the legacy of Vietnamese lacquer painting but also redefines it, ensuring its relevance in the world of modern art.