Nguyen van Minh-Education, Exhibitions, International Events, Awards, Major Achievements, Positions Held
February 12, 2010
EDUCATION
1961-1962 Studied lacquer techniques at the National Industrial Arts and Research Institute,
Kyoto and Sendai, Japan
1959 Received Pedagogic Degree in Fine Arts
1958 Graduated Top Honor from National of Superior Fine Arts, Saigon, Vietnam
AWARDS
1982 Gold Medal Recipient from Academy of Fine Arts, Sciences and Letters,
Paris, France
1964 Special Honor Medal awarded by International Fine Arts Exhibition,
Saigon, Vietnam
1963 Silver Medal Recipient from International Fine Arts Exhibition, Rome, Italy
1962 Special Honor Medal awarded by Vatican, Rome, Italy for portrait of Pope Paul VI
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
1971-1972 Large lacquer wall panels for Vietnam Credit and Commercial Bank, Saigon, Vietnam
Chairman’s office – Banquet Room and Director’s General’s office
1967 Designed the interior of the Vietnam Independent Palace, Official Room
Large lacquer panel 52′ x 27′ “Declaration of Vietnam Independence”
1962 Portrait of Mr. Suharto, President of Indonesia, and Mrs. Suharto
EXHIBITIONS
2000 Mairie du 2eme Arrondissement, Paris, France
1999 Embassy of France, Washington, D.C.
1998 Expo/Auction in Ranco Santa Fe, San Diego, CA
Mairie du 2eme Arrondissement, Paris, France
1996 Mairie du 2eme Arrondissement, Paris, France
Boston Corporate Art, Boston, MA
1994 Van Rossum Co., Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hotel Astoria, Brussels, Belgium
1993 De Rempich Fine Art, New York, NY
Mairie du 2eme Arrondissement, Paris, France
1992 White Art Center, St. Martens-Latem, Belgium
The Six Chimneys, Orford, NH
1991 Towson State University, Maryland
1989 Mairie du 3eme Arrondissement, Paris, France
1988 De Rempich Gallery, New York, NY
1987 Maison de la Chimie, Paris, France
De Rempich Gallery, New York, NY
1986 The World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Hotel Meridien, Paris, France
1985 The University Club, Washington, D.C.
1984 Union des Banques, Paris, France
1983 The University Club, Washington, D.C.
1982 Union des Banques, Paris, France
1981 Union des Banques, Paris, France
1980 Espace Pierre Cardin, Paris, France
Union des Banques, Paris, France
1979 Alliance Francaise de Washington, Washington, D.C.
Various shows and private exhibitions in Paris, France
1978 Nieman Marcus, Washington, D.C.
Cite Universitaire, Paris, France
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
1970 Expo 70, Osaka, Japan
1967 International Fair, Bangkok, Thailand
1964 International Fair, Paris, France
1963 International Art Fair, Munich, Germany
1962 International Fine Art Exhibition, Roma, Italy
1960 Exhibition of Vietnam Fine Arts and Crafts, Kualalumpur, Malaysia
1956 International Fair, Bangkok, Thailand
OTHER POSITIONS HELD
1989-1993 Owner and Director “Lacque Nguyen Van Minh” Lacquer Gallery, Washington, D.C.
1965-1975 Owner and Director of Me-Linh Vietnam Arts and Crafts, Ltd.
1970 Professor of Vietnam Polytechnic School
1962-1965 Director, Creation Department of Vietnam Arts & Handicraft Development Center
Minh van Nguyen, 1934-2005
February 12, 2010
From The Washington Post, January 13, 2005
Minh Van Nguyen, 70, a master lacquer artist whose work has been shown around the world, died Jan. 6 of metastatic lung cancer at Inova Fairfax Hospital. He was a resident of Centreville.
Mr. Nguyen was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and graduated with honors from the National School of Superior Fine Arts in Saigon in 1958. He received a teaching degree in fine arts in 1959 and studied lacquer techniques in Kyoto and Sendai, Japan, in 1961-62.
He mastered a form that dates to the early 12th century B.C., when Chinese artisans applied sap from trees as decorative sealants on wood objects. Mr. Nguyen’s technique was to apply layer upon layer of lacquer, sometimes up to 120 coats, to wood panels and surfaces. He often took six months to a year to finish a work.
It’s a technique that’s fast fading, because it’s time-consuming and, thus, expensive.
From 1962 to 1965, he was director of the Creation Department of the Vietnam Arts and Handicraft Development Center in Saigon, an art school he set up to teach the trade to poor children. He was owner and director of Me-Linh Vietnam Arts and Crafts Ltd. in Saigon from 1965 to 1975, employing more than a hundred people in the production of his lacquer pieces.
He escaped war-torn Vietnam in 1975, a week before Saigon fell. “He left everything behind to literally start his life over,” his daughter Chi Nguyen said.
He brought his family to the Washington area and, in the mid-1980s, operated a gallery in Georgetown.
His works include a 1964 portrait of Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba and his wife; the interior of the Vietnam Independence Palace, which now serves as a museum in Ho Chi Minh City; and large lacquer panels for the Vietnam Credit and Commercial Bank of Saigon done in 1971-72. He also created a portrait of Pope Paul VI.
He held exhibitions in Japan, Europe and the United States. In the Washington area, his work has been shown at the World Bank, the French Embassy, the University Club, Alliance Francaise de Washington and Neiman Marcus.
In 1963, he was awarded the silver medal by the International Fine Arts Exhibition in Rome and in 1982, the gold medal from the Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters in Paris.
Survivors include six children, Nga Thai of Alexandria, Nhat Nguyen of Centreville, Tri Nguyen of Alexandria, Chi Nguyen of Roswell, Ga., Diep Nguyen of Arlington and Thai Nguyen of San Diego; his mother, Chinh Nguyen of Houston; and five grandchildren.
Inquiries regarding the purchase of Nguyen van Minh’s lacquer art Rough Waves Tsunami may be made at roughwaves@gmail.com
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