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.In ‘Return’, Hoa’s choice of painting in earthly tones creates a gloomy atmosphere, which is further emphasized by the melancholic face. A surreal feeling is heightened by the presence of a fox and an upside down cow.
