Nguyen Kim Thai
Nguyen Kim Thai (b. 1943, Vietnam) graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and works across multiple mediums, including oil painting, lacquer, and silk. Beginning her artistic career in 1962, she has explored a wide range of subjects – from landscapes and scenes of daily life to portraits of militia, soldiers, farmers, mothers and children, and the feminine form.
Nguyen Kim Thai’s paintings are known for their distinctive style, marked by a sense of freedom, sensuality, and strength. Recognized as one of the pioneering female painters of the Đổi Mới (Renovation) period, she has received numerous national fine art awards. As a student, colleague, and wife of the late master sculptor Le Cong Thanh, she helped shape the legacy of the celebrated artistic partnership known as “Thanh–Thai,” which has secured its place in the history of Vietnamese art.
Studio Visit with Nguyen Kim Thai
In this 22-minute video, Nguyen Kim Thai reflects on the challenging journey she undertook while studying to become an artist during wartime, and later while practicing as one of Vietnam’s few female artists during the Doi Moi period. She also discusses the power of acceptance and staying true to oneself, and how society’s perception of her nude paintings has changed over the years due to her persistence.
This video is part of a series of interviews by Nguyễn Art Foundation.