Introduction of Vietnam Son Mai paintings
Lacquer is an organic substance extracted from the tree which is grown mostly in Northern Vietnam. The use of lacquer as a medium in painting is called “Son Mai” which in Vietnamese means “paint then burnish and rub”. These lacquer paintings are almost exclusively done on wood. The process of creating a Son Mai painting is tedious and time consuming. The preparation of the wood alone usually takes one to two months preparations before paint can be applied. The artist is not only skilled at painting but also has a high level of technical skill to prepare the wood from warping and apply layer after layer of lacquer. Lacquer paint requires a specific type of hot humid environment to allow complete hardening. Each layer of color needs a day to dry followed by burnishing and rubbing back. This technique also requires the artist to be alert to where he has placed any image and mindful of the different layers of color to be painted. If burnishing is insufficient, desirable feature will remain hidden; if excessive, certain subtlety of detail or color will be lost. On the other hand, Son Mai technique allows the artist time and choice of different media used to express his art like a love potion passionately mixed till total satisfaction is obtained.
Today, Vietnam artists like Do Xuan Doan, Mai San, Nguyen Van Hai have mastered the use of lacquer and other mediums (pure gold leaf, silver leaf, and eggshells) in Son Mai painting to create various techniques, colors and processes to maximize their expression of art. When it comes to more modern art, Panduranga Gallery is very selective and offers only the most sought after Son Mai paintings.
Today, Vietnam artists like Do Xuan Doan, Mai San, Nguyen Van Hai have mastered the use of lacquer and other mediums (pure gold leaf, silver leaf, and eggshells) in Son Mai painting to create various techniques, colors and processes to maximize their expression of art. When it comes to more modern art, Panduranga Gallery is very selective and offers only the most sought after Son Mai paintings.