The artwork features President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam reading the Declaration of Independence in Hanoi on September 1, 1945, proclaiming the birth of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The image of swallows flying in a radiant sky blends harmoniously with the joyful spirit of the people, welcoming a new era and a hopeful future. 

The other side of the painting captures the joyous spirit of victory glowing beneath the radiant sky of the Fatherland. People are seen rejoicing and celebrating, holding festivals that honor peace and the promise of a bright future. A bridge linking iconic architectural landmarks from North to South symbolizes the enduring unity of the nation and its people.

To complete the massive 2.4m x 7.2m single-panel lacquer painting, Quang spent years researching materials and refining techniques to push the boundaries of traditional lacquer art.

The idea was initially inspired by artist Nguyan Thanh Tung, Quang’s brother-in-law and mentor, who shared his vision of creating a monumental, seamless lacquer painting portraying President Ho Chi Minh in the historic moment of reading the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945.

“Creating a single-piece lacquer painting is an enormous challenge. But that seamlessness gives the artwork its soul — it feels more complete and alive,” said Quang.

To realise this dream, the two artists not only thought as painters but also as engineers. They studied the structures of aircraft wings, ship hulls, and traditional Vietnamese craft techniques to design a multi-layered wooden panel that could naturally expand and contract, resist colour fading, and remain environmentally friendly.

At the award ceremony, art critic Mai Thi Ngoc Oanh, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, affirmed the award honours the creativity, courage, and determination of Vietnamese artists to transcend limits.

Quang’s work not only revives the sacred moment of national history when President Ho Chi Minh proclaimed independence but also stands as a bridge between tradition and modern creativity, helping to promote Vietnamese art to the world, she stressed.

According to Austin Johnson, a representative of the World Records Union (WorldKings), the record was validated after independent measurements confirming that it is the largest single-piece lacquer painting ever created.

Born into a family with a deep artistic heritage, Chu Nhat Quang displayed artistic talent from an early age. He studied Fine Arts at Santa Ana College (USA) and Applied Design at RMIT University.

His mentor, Nguyen Thanh Tung, who has lived and worked in the United States and Canada, passed on to him a deep passion for lacquer art and a commitment to preserving Vietnamese culture.

Winners of UOB Painting of the Year Vietnam 2025 announced

VOV.VN - The third edition of the UOB Painting of the Year (POY) Vietnam has crowned local artist Cao Van Thuc as the top winner for his lacquer painting titled "Gắn kết tạm thời" (lit. Temporary Bond), which showcases the beauty of Vietnamese labourers.