Bui Van Hoan was born in Hai Duong, Vietnam in 1971. He graduated from the Hanoi College of Fine Arts in 1994 and has specialised in oil on canvas paintings since then. His work is inspired by his serene and peaceful approach to life, often referred to in Vietnamese as “Thien”, roughly translated as a particular Vietnamese school of Zen Buddhism. As a painter, he is a master of light. His paintings reveal complexities not seen at first glance.

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Impressionism has always been a subject of experimentation for artists. Bui Van Hoan pushes the limits of the genre by allowing his art to be the translation of his most inner desires.

In his landscape paintings, he depicts calm, reflective waters and a soft hazy sky. There is a mist that enshrouds his scenes. But look closely and you will observe veils of light breaking through, lighting up details not originally apparent. Combined with colour and atmosphere reflected in water, his landscapes emphasise tranquillity and represent a contemplative perception of nature.

When he features monks in his artwork, he captures their movements, cascading them with brilliant light. The monks are always in a meditative silence, whether they are seen journeying into the mist or surrounded by majestic mountains. 

 

His work is truly a blend of east and west – his brush strokes result in an impressionist canvas but the subject is clearly Asian in inspiration and subject matter. Bui Van Hoan’s paintings are found in the permanent collection of the Vietnam Fine Art Museum and have been exhibited internationally in London, New York, Rome, Tokyo and Singapore.