Nguyen Xuan Huy

At the age of 20, Nguyen Xuan Huy left Vietnam and traveled to Europe. At that time, he was already an exceptional drawer and painter. Having arrived in Germany, he passed the redoubtable entrance examinations of the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design, where he received his diploma and later his postgraduate degree. As a part of his studies, he also studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts Bordeaux in France.

During his time at the University, as well as the following years, Vietnam remained in his main thematic focus. Nguyen Xuan Huy is exceptionally interested in politics and social commentary, which is reflected in his work. As an artist, he illustrates problem-oriented situations, invoking many aspects of ethos, art history and human swarm behavior. Nguyen presents his country of origin to his audience as Dionysian procession/demonstration under communist symbols, such as the bare female bodies deformed by the gene-toxic Agent Orange. Several of these large-sized canvases allude to motifs of Goya, Bosch, Botticelli, and Jeff Koons.

After nearly two decades in Germany, the artist has creatively thrived in his second home. His new paintings are no less dramatic than his Asian panneaux, however his works have become more complex, whilst being reduced down to a European format. Gloomy landscapes and desolate interiors replace the once white backgrounds. The subjects seem to be posing alone in front of webcams, but in communication with machines, rather than with humans. These paintings speak of loneliness, apathy, lies, and depression in a new dark age.