Pham Quang Vinh was born in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1960. A graduate of the Hanoi Industrial of Fine Arts University, Vinh was associated with the Gang of Five, a group of Hanoi painters who rose to prominence in the early 1990s in Vietnam.

 

Composed of five members: Hong Viet Dung, Ha Tri Hieu, Dang Xuan Hoa, Tran Luong and Pham Quang Vinh, they were perceived as amongst the most promising artists of their generation, and the first group to gain international acclaim in post Doi Moi Vietnam. The Gang of Five are known for creating bold works conceptually depicting personal emotion as well as exploring different forms of artistic expressions (in terms of theme, color palette, materials) that departed from the Social Realist tradition in Vietnamese art prevalent until the mid 1980’s. Stemming from what was initially a large group of young graduates in the early 1980s (from the University of Fine Art and the University of Industrial Fine Art), the Gang of Five were most active with their independent artistic careers. They carried on painting tirelessly after finishing their day jobs; arranged frequent gatherings at home to discuss art, commenting on each other’s works, and facilitating conversations that sustained their passion for painting. Their first public debut as a group of five young artists was in 1990 in an exhibition commemorating Vincent Van Gogh at Gallery No. 7 Hang Khay (Hanoi). Shortly afterwards, the group received their ‘rebellious’ nickname and became known as the Gang of Five in 1993 after showing together at the Fine Art Association (no. 16 Ngo Quyen). Following their official inauguration, each member attended to different pursuits – with Tran Luong’s emergence as a contemporary visual artist and curator; Pham Quang Vinh’s further development in the publishing industry; Hong Viet Dung, Hà Trí Hieu and Dang Xuân Hoà’s establishment in their own specific areas of the art scene and in the international market. They remain close friends and colleagues, regrouping again in late 2015. Dubbed by their senior and mentor Nguyen Quân as ‘bè lu nam tên’ and translated into English as the ‘Gang of Five’ – a name that was inspired by, but didn’t have any core affiliation with the political Gang of Four in China.

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SOLO EXHIBITIONS

 

1998 Kansas City Plaza Art Fair, USA 

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GROUP EXHIBITIONS

 

1999           Group exhibition Co Do Gallery Hanoi 

1998           Group exhibition Co Do Gallery Hanoi 

1997           "The Changing Face of Hanoi" Hong Kong

                   "A Room with a View" Singapore 

                   " Vietnamese Fine Art" The Hague, the Netherlands 

                   "A New Morning" Hanoi Fine Arts University 

1996           Young Painters exhibition Hanoi 

                   "Gang of Five" Exhibition Galerie La Vong, Hong Kong 

1995.          "Weather Report" Exhibition. An art collaboration of Asian and Netherlands artists. Exhibited in the                                        Netherlands, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong 

                   National Fine Arts Exhibition Hanoi 

1994.          "Gang of Five" Exhibition Turtle Key Gallery, London 

                   "Festival Vietnam" Hong Kong. 

1993           Group show" Gang of Five", Hanoi 

1992           Abstract painting exhibition, Ho Chi Minh City 

1991           Group show Gallery Thanh Nien, Ho Chi Minh City 

                   " The Fourth Humanity" Hoang Hae Gallery, Ho Chi Minh City 

1990           National Fine Arts Exhibition, Hanoi 

                   Group show in honor of the centenary of Van Gogh's death Gallery 7 Hang Khay Street, Hanoi 

                   " Portrait" exhibition Gallery 7 Hang Khay Street Hanoi