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Le Quoc Viet (born 1972) is a contemporary Vietnamese artist, printmaker, and researcher known for blending traditional Vietnamese art forms with modern often spiritual themes.

Trained in calligraphy and Buddhism during his youth in a pagoda, he works with woodblock prints, handmade Do paper, and silk, often exploring themes of traditional culture and spirituality.

Key Details and Background

Birth: Born in 1972 in Vietnam.
Early Life & Education: Spent 1973–1987 in a pagoda studying Chinese and calligraphy. He later graduated from Vietnam University of Fine Arts (1991–1996) and became a researcher of ancient arts at the Fine Arts Institute in Hanoi.
Artistic Style: Often referred to as having an "old soul," Viet bridges the gap between traditional Vietnamese art and contemporary expression, with a strong focus on woodblock prints.
Artistic Focus: He is skilled in various media, including traditional woodcuts, ink on Do paper, silk painting, and ceramics.
Key Exhibitions: His work has been featured in exhibitions such as "Buddha's Hands: Buddhism In Contemporary Vietnamese Art" (2007) and "Traces And Traditions: Vietnamese Woodblock Prints" (2003) in the U.S., as well as various shows in Hanoi.
Associations: He was a member of "Zenei, The Gang of Five," a group of artists-scholars focused on Han-Nom (traditional Vietnamese scripts).
Themes: His work frequently touches on Buddhism, traditional Vietnamese culture, and the "Tet" (New Year) animals.

Le Quoc Viet’s work is recognized for its rootedness in traditional,,pre-colonial,,Vietnamese culture while operating within the modern,,fine arts context.

2004-2005 Researcher at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi, Vietnam

1997-2000 Researcher of the Ancient Arts of Vietnam, Fine Arts Institute Hanoi, Vietnam

1996 Graduated from Vietnam University of Fine Arts

1978-1987 Studied Sino – Nom and calligraphy at pagodas in Ninh Binh province Vietnam

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2010 Secret Mantra, calligraphic installation, Indochinese Arts Partnership, Wellesley, MA, USA

2004 Calligraphy and Painting, Goethe-Institut, Hanoi, Vietnam

2001 Solo Exhibition, My Art Prospects Gallery, New York City, USA

1999 Spring- Calligraphy exhibition in the Temple of Kongfuzi, Hanoi, Vietnam

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 David Thomas and Friends, Fine Art Museum, Hanoi, Vietnam

2013

Fur, Fangs and Feathers: Vietnamese Tet Animals, Calvin Charles Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ

2012 Vietnam Now, Hongkong Land, Hong Kong

2009

Group exhibition, Tradition and Change: Vietnamese Art Today, The Consulate General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in San Francisco, San Francisco City Hall

2008

The Affordable Art Fair NY, New York

2008 Dance of the Script, Maison des Arts, Hanoi, Vietnam

2007 The Script – Zenei Gang of Five, calligraphy with Tran Trong Duong, Pham Van Tuan, Nguyen Duc Dzung, Nguyen Quang Thang, Studio Tho, Hanoi, Vietnam

2006 Il Drago e la Farfalla – Arte Contemporanea in Vietnam, Complesso del Vittoriano, Rome, Italy

2005 Lotus Flower – Art From Vietnam, Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki; Waino Aaltonen Museum of Art, Turku; Hameenlinna Art Museum, Finland

2005 The Ten Courts of the Kings of Hell, Bankside Gallery, London, England

2003 Traces and Traditions: Vietnamese Woodblock Prints, International Print Center, New York City, USA

2002 Vietnam Art Actuel, Centre d’Exposition de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

2002 Brush to Block: Vietnamese Works on Paper, The Eastern Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA

2002 Tradition and Change: Contemporary Vietnamese Art, The Landon Gallery, New York, USA

2000 Exhibition with demonstration and talk about calligraphy, Vietnam Ethnology Museum, Hanoi, Vietnam

2000 Human Being in Ancient Sculpture, Hanoi Fine Arts University, Hanoi, Vietnam

2000 Spring-Calligraphy Exhibition, together with UNESCO Calligraphy Club, Temple of Confucius (Kongfuzi), Hanoi, Vietnam

1999 Two-man exhibition with Tran Hoang Son, Hanoi Fine Arts College, Hanoi, Vietnam