Pham Huy Thong is a social commentary artist from Hanoi, Vietnam. His works are primarily oil on canvas that have a strong focus on socio-economic problems within Vietnam. During his second major solo exhibition, several works were removed from the show by police request, because of their politically provocative nature. While he says that he is often seen as critical and judging, he wishes instead to portray a message of reality and vision.
Pham Huy Thong stand in front of “Money In Hand”
The Eating Competition
Most recently Thong has produced a new series called “Hand” series. As people in society, we always have to act under social norms and conventions. In doing this, our identities are lost. Thong wishes not to portray a particular person, the individuals in these paintings are said to be hiding their true identities and thinking to adapt to social norms and expectations. Thong removes the subject’s head and replaces them with hands. Hands have the ability to depict a wide variety of human emotion such as anger, power, fear, happiness, etc… The people in Thong’s Hand series look very alive, active and sly even though the viewer cannot be sure of their identities.
General Human Hand
Money Go Round
The Marching Turtle
You may be wondering what the significance of the turtle is. In Vietnamese Temples and Pagodas, you can often find sculptures of turtles carrying panels on which history, moral lessons, or the names of scholars are carved. Thong believes that turtles are a symbol of good Vietnamese culture, tradition and education.
Pham Huy Thong is one of the rising stars within Vietnam’s art world. He has shown extensively throughout Asia and into Europe and now he makes his vision seen in the US. Pham Huy Thong has shown us that there is a way to express yourself through art and to also stand uo for what you believe in. He is a new and rising star in the art community because of this, and for that we thank him!
Browse all of Thong’s most recent work on his exhibitors page at Koo de Monde.