Bui Xuan Phai (September 1st, 1920 – June 24th, 1988) was born in Kim Hoang village, Van Canh commune, Ha Dong province (Hanoi, Vietnam). He was a student of the Painting Section of the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts d’Indochine class XV (1941-1945); a member of Vietnam Fine Arts Association (1957). From 1947 to 1952, he joined the August Resistance in Hanoi and took part in artistic activities in North Vietnam. [image src=”https://www.hanoiarttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Phat-Loc-Temple-1984.jpg” width=”600″ height=”460″]
Phat Loc Temple – 1980 – Vietnam Fine Art Museum
Afterwards, he wrote and illustrated newspapers in Hanoi (1952 – 1954); taught at the Hanoi Fine Arts College (1956 – 1957); became a creative painter of Vietnam Fine Arts Association. During his composing process, he was awarded a medal “For the Cause of Vietnamese Art”. Watching his paintings, viewers can sense a spiritual life with a charming Hanoi old quarter – a unique style called “Pho Phai” (Phai’s Street).
[image src=”https://www.hanoiarttours.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Make-up-Before-a-Cheo-Representation.jpg” width=”600″ height=”460″]Bui Xuan Phai – Before curtain time (Truoc gio bieu dien), oil paint (1984). Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts
During his career, he drew not only the city but also drew other subjects regarding to cheo, the countryside, mines, portraits and he brought highly appreciated works of all themes. He had 6 solo exhibitions in Hanoi. There have been many books written about him, most recently with a few sets of books “Bui Xuan Phai – life and work”. They were written by two authors – painter Bui Thanh Phuong (his son) and art collector Tran Hau Tuan, and published by Fine Arts Publishing House. These books provided fairly detailed information about Bui Xuan Phai’s life and works. Currently, his paintings are kept in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and in many private collections inside and outside the country. His house at No. 87 Pho Bac, Hanoi is considered as a small museum displaying his works and his son’s works.
Bui Xuan Phai – Hang Mam Street (Pho Hang Mam), oil paint (1984). Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts
He received a prize at the National Fine Arts Exhibition, 1946; first prize at the National Fine Arts Exhibition, 1980; a prize at the International Graphic Exhibition in Leipzig (Germany); prizes at the 1969, 1981, 1983 and 1984 Capital City Art Exhibitions; Ho Chi Minh Prize in Literature and Arts, 1996 for his works: Hanoi in Resistance – Oil paint (1954), A Cheo Couple – Oil paint (1967), A Cheo Stage – Oil paint (1968), Make-up Before a Cheo Representation – Oil paint (1968), An Ox Cart in Old Quarter – Oil paint (1972), Hanoi Old Quarter – Oil paint (1972), Deserted Street – Oil paint (1981), Before Curtain Time – Oil paint (1984).
