Born in Hanoi, Ha Tri Hieu (b.1959) graduated from Hanoi Industrial Fine Arts University in 1983. Together with Tran Luong, Pham Ouang Vinh, Hong Viet Dung and Dang Xuan Hoa, they are collectively known as the Hanoi ‘Gang of Five’. Hieu draws his inspiration from everyday life, cultural motifs and traditional art forms. He has participated in more than 15 exhibitions internationally, including two solo exhibitions in Vietnam.Hieu’s self-portraits are smaller in size and more expressionistic than his pastoral paintings. ‘Self-Portrait I’ is a quick study of himself in his characteristic pose: with a cigarette in his hand. While the facial features are clearly delineated, the fragmentation hints of Cubist influence.
