Nguyen Thi Mai

The works by the Vietnamese artist who combines archaic and modern elements in an art form that can be called spiritual and naïve

Nguyen Thi Mai (1966) is a self-taught artist based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. She works mainly with acrylic painting and lacquer painting, although she is also experienced with oil on canvas, silk painting, and ink painting.

Lacquer painting is a traditional Vietnamese art form, with the painting done on wooden boards. However, Nguyen Thi Mai has given this traditional art form a new twist with her own unique technique.

It is usual for lacquer paintings to have a glossy finishing. However, with her technique, Mai's lacquer paintings have a matte finishing. Thus the term "unpolished lacquer painting". The matte look has given her lacquer pieces a very subtle and refined look, not found elsewhere on the market.

As a self-taught artist, I am very much influenced by the visions I see, the melodies I hear, and my deep appreciation for tradition and beauty. Through my art, I advocate, and also seek, balance and harmony. Balance and harmony not only on the canvas, but more importantly, within me. When a pendulum reaches the extremes, it seeks the centre. Through balance, we have harmony. Through harmony, we have peace. And through peace, we have happiness.