In-depth
The art of life
  • | dtinews.vn | August 27, 2010 01:50 PM

Artist Bao Nguyen has long-been making splashes with his revered black and white portraits.

“Passion and fate are the two words that best explain the reason for me sticking with this work for more than 50 years,” smiled Bao Nguyen while gently erasing some dark spots off a black and white portrait of scientist Albert Einstein.

Many newspapers and magazines in Vietnam as well as other countries such as Japan, France, and the US, have featured his drawings, making “Bao Nguyen” a household name in his mother country. His work and his name have been common place for over half a century.

Bao Nguyen took up the art of black and white portraits quite by chance, but stuck with it like it was his fate. He still recalls his childhood dream was to become a scientist, so he chose to study physics at university. However, Bao failed to achieve his dream due to a serious disease which struck him down during final exams. During his convalescence at home, the young boy followed some portrait artists to their workshops, snuck up on them and watched them attentively while at work.

Fascinated by the lively images skillfully drawn with simple tools, Bao Nguyen wanted to try it himself. He started with sketched portraits of his family members.

“I realized that I not only had a passion, but also great potential for drawing, so I decided to take part in an entrance exam for this work and completely forgot about my uncompleted studies at university,” Bao recalls.

In the 1960’s, black and white portrait drawing, (known as Nghe thuat ve Truyen Than in Vietnamese) was very popular in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi’s Old Quarter streets of Hang Ngang, Hang Dao, and Hang Duong.

Portrait workshops were everywhere. At that time, a portrait artist could earn a lot of money, even more than an engineer! “I can remember that after the first month employed by a workshop, I was paid VND 250, a large sum of money at that time (compared to VND 60 for an engineer), and I used it to buy a Peugeot bicycle. A lot of French tourists have asked me to sell them the Peugeot but I fully intend to keep it,” said Bao Nguyen.
With only some brush pens, a small eraser, black ink powder, and an easel, Bao and his fellow-artists have deftly and skillfully captured the mood and the spirits of their subjects in their drawings.

Besides drawing portraits ordered by customers, Nguyen’s hobby is to sketch portraits of his favourite film stars like Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, or other famous icons. At his own small shop on 47 Hang Ngang Street, his portraits adorn the walls.

“Sometimes old fans of these stars, mostly foreign tourists, drop into my shop and buy their favourite star’s portrait. Several days ago, an English customer brought this small picture of Albert Einstein and wanted me to redraw it. I’m happy to do this because Einstein has also been one of my idols since I was a student.”

Nguyen considers portrait drawing not just his job, but his life’s passion.

“Some people have asked me whether I regret not returning to university to get a degree and taking a job in a state firm, ensuring a retirement pension in old-age. I tell them that if I had the chance to choose again, I’d still make that same decision.”

Portrait drawing has been a big part of his life. In his free time, with the help of some English grammar books and a dictionary, Nguyen learns English to communicate with his foreign clients. Bao’s wife, who used to work for a state-owned factory, was also influenced by his passion and followed suit, staying home to learn drawing. Now, the elderly couple still shares the same life-long passion for portrait drawing.

Of course, with the advent of the digital age of cameras and computers, this type of creativity has lost its appeal for some. Many portrait artists have switched to other jobs to ensure their livelihood. Bao Nguyen is one of the few who still sticks with this art. “Few young people now have enough patience for this art. They are more practically minded, while this type of work cannot guarantee them much money.”

Bao, for a moment, seems to be lost in reflection, but then his eyes light up and he says, “Although digital cameras can do our job much more quickly and efficiently, some people still want high – quality portraits, drawn with skill in the traditional way.”

Walking along bustling Hang Ngang Street, make sure you drop in at the small shop where an old, thin, master of his trade is totally absorbed in his art. No matter what’s happening outside, Bao Nguyen is transported elsewhere with his passion.

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