Nguyen Minh Phuoc

As an artist, Nguyen Minh Phuoc strives to use his skills to send messages, not simply to create beauty. He is well known within Vietnam for introducing the concept of artistic installations and performance art. Many of Phuoc’s paintings focus on the iconic image of a monk or a group of monks, viewed from the back, travelling in a purposeful journey. The backgrounds of his works vary, from pagodas, temples, tree-tops, and even simply a deep hue of reddish-orange. The simplicity and two-dimensionality of the backgrounds serve to contrast the detail of the monks’ robes; as every fold and shade is in sharp focus. An additional distinctive characteristic of Phuoc’s artwork is the detail afforded to human musculature. Each monk is depicted with an effort toward the accuracy of the human form, juxtaposing it with the slightly ethereal aura and spirituality his pieces exhibit. Phuoc is part of Nhà Sàn Collective, the first non-profit experimental art space in Vietnam.