The journey back to the roots
Born into a family of 3 generations in the arts, Chu Nhat Quang was soon nurtured in the space of colors, sound and Vietnamese cultural memories. Since he was a child, he has been used to the smell of paint, wood, and quiet paintings in a small house. It was that environment that sowed in him the seeds of the love of painting, a not-so-noisy but persistent love like a red thread connecting memories and faith.
Seven years of studying abroad in foreign countries gave him the opportunity to explore contemporary art or open creative thinking. But it was also during those years away from home that Quang realized the most profound thing: the further he went, the more he wanted to return. Returning to Vietnamese culture, to the national soul in each gram of lacquer - the material that is both rustic and magical as containing the thousand-year-old soul of the country.
Amidst the global artistic flow, when many young people seek Western trends, Chu Nhat Quang chose a unique path for himself. He believes that lacquer is not only a technique but also the voice of the Vietnamese soul. Each layer of paint, each layer of color carries the breath of the homeland, of the Vietnamese people - he shared.
In the exhibition "Spring of Independence", Chu Nhat Quang's works recreate the history of the nation through the perspective of a responsible young person. From Ba Dinh Square to Truong Sa, Hoang Sa, from the Fire-Shoaled Dragon Bridge to the legendary Truong Son route, all appear in sparkling paint that is both classic and new. He chose to recreate historical symbols not to nostalgicate, but to arouse the pride and aspiration for solidarity of the Vietnamese people today.
The paintings Overcoming Truong Son, Eternal Spring to Peaceful Land close the series of works as a simple but weighty affirmation: After all the losses and division, the North - Central - South have returned to the same house. There, people see not only the shadow of war and peace but also the belief, pride and aspiration to rise up of the young generation of Vietnam - the generation that is following in the footsteps of their father with the same creative flame in their hearts.
For Chu Nhat Quang, art is not only for sightseeing, but to awaken patriotism and the spirit of great national unity with colors, light and sincere emotions. He chose to live and create as a person who preserves Vietnamese memories, so that from each layer of paint, each sparkling yellow light, viewers can see the glow of his homeland: a resilient, humane and immortal Vietnam in each handwriting street.
The picture of national pride
Amidst the bright red space of the national flag, the sparkling yellow light of silver lacquer and the brilliant colors of national pride, the painting "Uncle Ho reads the Declaration of Independence" by artist Chu Nhat Quang appears as a colorful song. This is the world's largest lacquer work recognized by Guinness World Records Organization on September 3, 2025, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
On the giant figure, the image of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration in Ba Dinh Square is placed in the center of the layout as a symbol of the will to be independent and free. Surrounded by hundreds of soldiers, people, and students, they turned to him, forming a unified bloc. Behind it is the bright red and yellow flame, the colors flying like silk waves, symbolizing the spirit of great national unity that is rising, spreading from the past to the present.
Looking at the painting carefully, we see handmade plastered gold and silver plates interspersed between the typical dark colors of lacquer paint, creating a sparkling depth like a brilliant dawn on the background of history. Young artists not only recall sacred historical moments through painting but also blow into them the Vietnamese soul: Resilient, persistent, constantly reborn. He chose recycled materials as the body for the work with the concept: "Every material, whether old or abandoned, carries its own memory and vitality, just like our nation has gone through many ups and downs but is still reviving and developing".
Not only is the painting "Uncle Ho Read the Independence Speech" a declaration of contemporary Vietnamese culture, where traditional art is revived in a new form. The strong lines and explosive colors symbolize the creative aspirations of the 9X young generation - the generation that both continues the legacy of their ancestors and wants to bring Vietnamese art to the world.
Chu Nhat Quang called the painting "a word of gratitude to Uncle Ho" and "a gift for the Fatherland". For him, Guinness honor is not only personal pride but a common achievement of national culture. This is a testament to Vietnamese art, whether traditional or modern, still carrying the spirit of eternal independence and freedom.
That painting is not only Guinness's record but also a song of patriotism, an example reflecting a resilient, humane and united Vietnam. And through each line of Chu Nhat Quang, it is clear that: Art when originating from the patriotic heart will always have a touching power, connect and shine with the nation.
