One of the noteworthy details at the exhibition "Maj Trang Olson: Following in His Father's Footsteps " is the story behind the portrait that the renowned painter Bui Xuan Phai painted of Maj Trang Olson in 1988.
Back then, Maj Trang was a young woman. Now, nearly four decades later, the artist has returned to Hanoi . The dress with the same patterns that appeared in her 1988 portrait is once again recreated in Maj Trang's self-portrait.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition showcasing the works of female artist Maj Trang Olson and her two brothers was held at the Hanoi Fine Arts Museum.
Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Nguyen Anh Minh, delivered the opening speech for the exhibition.
From the girl in the painting to the journey of painting.
Ms. Mai Trang was the model in the painting "Girl in a Black Dress with White Geometric Patterns" by the renowned artist Bui Xuan Phai. The work was created in 1988, and just a few months after its completion, Bui Xuan Phai passed away.
This unique, "dreamlike" portrait always attracts the attention of collectors both domestically and internationally.
In 1990, Maj Trang emigrated to Sweden. Maj Trang did not receive formal art training but came to painting primarily through self-study, observation, experience, and visits to art museums.
Ms. Maj Trang was the muse in a painting by the renowned artist Bui Xuan Phai before his death.
Some notable works by the female artist.
During her time living abroad, she had the opportunity to visit many major museums such as the Louvre, Prado, and MoMA, as well as the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and others. These experiences became part of Maj Trang's journey in finding her own unique form of expression.
Despite living far from Vietnam for many years, Hanoi and memories of her homeland still appear in her artwork. Maj Trang's paintings feature nature, clouds, birds, images of women, and traces that evoke the place where she was born and raised.
From 2010 to 2025, Maj Trang participated in 25 exhibitions in Sweden, Italy, and Vietnam. In 2024, she was awarded the Commemorative Medal for Contributions to Vietnamese Fine Arts. This return to Hanoi also brings Maj Trang back to the artistic story of her own family.
The three brothers exhibited together.
The Maj Trang Olson exhibition , "Continuing the Path of My Father," features Maj Trang and her two brothers, Nguyen Hong Hung and Thien Zen (Paul Van Thuyet). All three are children of the late artist Hong Van.
Growing up in the same family with an artistic tradition, the three chose different creative paths.
Nguyen Hong Hung pursued painting, sculpture, research, and teaching. He graduated with a major in sculpture from the University of Industrial Fine Arts and spent many years creating and researching visual principles. Three of his works are currently housed at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
Painter and sculptor Nguyen Hong Hung stands beside his artwork.
Meanwhile, Zen (Paul Vân Thuyết) has his origins in music . He was formerly a violinist in the Hà Tây Dance and Music Troupe, and later taught at the Industrial Design Department of the Hanoi Open University. His creative output spans music, sculpture, painting, and poetry.
Besides the three artists, there is also Ba Nghia, the sixth child in the family. Although he doesn't appear much in public, Ba Nghia has been the one preserving his siblings' works for many years. Ba Nghia has contributed to the preservation and connection of the family's artwork across different periods.
The title "Continuing the Father's Path" stems from the connection between the children and the late artist Hong Van. However, this continuation does not mean that the children chose the same style or creative path.
For Maj Trang, this return to Hanoi also marks a particularly special milestone in her life.
Spectators admire several outstanding sculptures.
In 1988, she was the girl featured in a painting by Bui Xuan Phai. Two years later, she left Vietnam to live in Sweden. In the following years, Maj Trang turned to painting and gradually built her artistic career.
Nearly four decades later, the girl who once modeled for Bui Xuan Phai returns to Hanoi with paintings she created herself. The dress that appeared in the old portrait is also included in her self-portrait as a detail connecting two periods in her life.
Source: https://tienphong.vn/gap-lai-nguoi-phu-nu-trong-buc-tranh-bui-xuan-phai-ve-truoc-khi-qua-doi-post1881838.tpo
