Born in Ha Son Province, Nguyen Quan (b.1948) graduated with a degree in math and cybernetics in the German Democratic Republic in 1971. It was during this time aboard that Quan developed an interest in Surrealism. His painting style is one that incorporates Western influences with a Vietnamese sensibility that belies an Asian tendency. Immediately in the post-Doi Moi period, Quan’s works and ideas became highly influential in the art circle, which was suddenly liberated, and allowed to paint non-representational works.Soon after his return from Germany, Quan began a short period of exploration into folk art where he documented the activities of the indigenous culture. ‘Two Musicians’ shows a male figure with a ‘dan day’, a traditional musical instrument of Vietnam.
