Le-pho

(1907-2001)

CHRONOLOGY

1907: Le Pho is born on August 2, 1907 in Vietnam, where his father is viceroy of Tonkin.

1925: He is admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Hanoi, a school directed by Victor Tardieu, who studied under Gustave Moreau with Henri Matisse and Georges Rouault.

1928: First exhibition in Hanoi, with the artists Vu Cao Dam and Mat Thu.

1930: Receives diploma of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and is given his first c ommission-for lacquer screens and murals at the Governor's Palace.

1931: Is sent to Paris by the Government of Indochina as Assistant to Victor Tardieu, who has been named Artistic Director of the Angkor Pavilion at the Exposition Coloniale. Serves on the jury of the handicraft section of the exhibition, presided over by Jean Dunand, French specialist in oriental lacquers, who painted the celebrated lacquer panels on the liner Norwandie.

1932: Studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Travels in Belgium, Holland and Italy, studying Italian and Flemish primitives. Exhibition in Rome.

1933: Returning to Vietnam, is appointed professor at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Hanoi. First one-man show under the patronage of the Governor of Indochina.

1934: Travels in China and discovers the masters of the Sung and Ming Dynasties.

1935: Is called to Hue to do portraits of the Empress of Annam and Emperor Bao-Dai. Receives commission for a large panel for the Imperial Palace at Hue.

1936: Prepares lacquer panels and decorations for the 1937 Paris World's Fair.

1937: Sent to Paris to become Art Director of the Indochinese section of the World's Fair. Decides to remain in the French capital. Becomes a great admirer of Bonnard, Matisse and Kaoul Dufy.

1938: At the urging of Waldemar George, holds his first exhibition in Paris.

1939: Volunteers for service in the French Army.

1940: Discharged from the Army, takes up residence in the south of France and holds exhibition in Nice.

1941: Exhibition at the Galerie Eorenceau, Vichy. Meets Andre Komanet, who sets up large exhibition at his Galerie d'Alger. Meetings with Marquet and Mainxieux.

1942: Exhibition in Casablanca.

1943 Exhibitions in Buenos Aires and at the Galerie Joly Hessel, Paris. Joly introduces him to Matisse. The contact with the master is profitable: Le Pho's palette lightens.

1945 Exhibition at the Galerie Roux Hentschel with Vu Cao Dam and Mat Thu.

1946: Exhibition at the Galerie Art Fran?is, Paris.

1948: Exhibition at the Galerie Van Loo, Brussels. Le Pho discovers the work of James Ensor.

1950 to 1954 Artistic advisor to the Embassy of Vietnam, Paris.

1957-1958: Shows with Foujita in Lyon, Avignon, Nice and Bordeaux.

1959: Eexhibition at the Galerie d'Art Decr? Nantes.

1960: Exhibition at the Galerie Aktuaryus, Strasbourg.

1961: Second exhibition at the Galerie Romanet, Paris.

1962: Exhibition in San Francisco.

1963: Exhibitions in New York and Caracas. Prize winner, International Exhibition of Beaux-Arts, Saigon.

Since 1964: Exhibitor at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Independants, Paris; exhibitions at the Wally Findlay Galleries, Palm Beach, Chicago and New York.

The artist's work is represented in the permanent collection of the Mus? d'Art Moderne, Paris, the Oklahoma Art Center A.S.A. and in numerous French museums outside of Paris.

Vietnam Arts & Culture