Vietnamese women wearing face masks, sunglasses and helmets on city streets are a striking subject in John Lester's paintings.
The painting, titled 'Sunglasses, Masks and Helmets', is among the standout works at John Lester's first solo exhibition in Vietnam, 'Vietnam - A Passion for Discovery,' on display at the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum (66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi) through August 8.
The exhibition offers Vietnamese visitors a fresh perspective on familiar scenes through Lester's distinctive visual language, vibrant palette dominated by primary colors, and the unique viewpoint of a British artist discovering the country.
Many of his paintings portray Vietnamese women in traditional 'ao dai' and conical hats, capturing them in everyday moments such as praying, strolling through the streets, reading books and even scrolling on their mobile phones.
British painter John Lester at his first-ever solo exhibition in Vietnam at Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum, Hanoi. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre
Lester is best known for painting graceful Asian women, often dressed in Vietnam’s traditional ao dai.
But one of the most striking subjects in his latest works is a different image of Vietnamese women, riding motorbikes with their faces hidden behind sunglasses, face masks and helmets.
The painting ‘Sunglasses, Masks and Helmets’ reflects a scene the British artist says he encountered almost every day on the streets of Vietnam, where motorbikes act as the main mode of transport.
“The girl from the past was beautiful, while the girl of today hides behind a mask and sunglasses. Everything is covered,” Lester told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper.
His paintings also capture other scenes that have become synonymous with Hanoi, including Long Bien Bridge and the city’s famous Train Street coffee shops, portraying a capital where centuries-old traditions coexist with rapid urban development.
As a British artist with a deep affection for Vietnam and a Vietnamese wife, Lester has found inspiration in many of the country’s overlooked yet distinctive everyday scenes, many of which are featured in his first solo exhibition in Vietnam.
He said he has been painting Vietnam for the past 12 years, and his fascination with discovering the country’s unique character has only grown stronger.
His first solo exhibition in Vietnam offers visitors a glimpse of the everyday details and distinctive scenes that captured the author's imagination.
Young Vietnamese visitors explore their country through the eyes of a British painter. Photo: Thien Dieu / Tuoi Tre
This painting captures a distinctly Vietnamese moment, juxtaposing the traditional ao dai with a smartphone.
Lester's artwork 'Balloons' depicts a child pointing at a bunch of colorful balloons.
Lester's 'Railway Alley' portrays Hanoi's famous Train Street.
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