Doan Xuan Tang

Born in 1977, Doan Xuan Tang is a contemporary artist from Nam Dinh province in Vietnam. He graduated from the Hanoi Fine Art University in 2001. His artistic inspiration originates from images perceived during his early years. His oil paintings often capture the unique beauty, strength and melancholy of people from the indigenous hill tribes. His paintings have been in many private collections in Japan, Hong Kong, the USA, France, Germany, Singapore and many other countries.

Inspired by fauvism and impressionism, Tang uses brilliant colours aggressively applied straight from the paint tubes to create a sense of an explosion on the canvas. His paintings are characterized by the use of bold colours and broad brushstrokes as well as streaks to obscure or exaggerate personal facial features. He does not paint with a conventional definition of beauty, since he believes beauty comes from within. 

Moreover, Tang always reveals personal thoughts and conveys them through the eyes of his subjects. His artworks express his feelings toward the local landscapes and people he met during his various trips to Northwest Vietnam. Through an admiration of multiple layers of colours, there is always a hint of sadness. He depicts the generational desire of the tribal folk to escape the mountains in search of a better life. Every painting has its own story in Tang’s body of work but they frequently use contrasting paints with representational details, while connecting symbolic references from the oppressive past to the future of the tribes in Vietnam. His choice of medium for most of his creations have been acrylic, charcoal, golden leaves on paper and canvas.

Tang is an active member of the Vietnamese young painter’s club. He has participated in numerous solo and group shows earning accolades and awards on the way.