Born in Nam Dinh in 1959, Dang Xuan Hoa graduated from Hanoi College of Fine Arts in 1983. Together with Tran Luong, Hong Viet Dung, Pham Quang Vinh and Ha Tri Hieu, they are known as the ‘Gang of Five’, an art collective that gained much attention in the immediate post-Doi Moi years. Hoa's works are expressionistic in style and he draws inspiration from traditional Vietnamese culture and everyday life. He is equally adept in the oil and gouache mediums.Hoa has a particular liking for cats, and often includes them in his work. Here, a girl is shown wearing the ‘ao dai’ (traditional Vietnamese outfit for women), with fruits in her hands, perhaps preparing for a ritual as surrounding her are objects associated with rituals such as the incense burner, decorated mask, and ornamented pillars.
