Ha Manh Thang's paintings reflect the social and cultural energy of contemporary Vietnam. With bright colors, he combines the symbols and signs of both tradition and modernity to depict the new Vietnam after Doi Moi, when the opening up brought economic progress and a new taste for expensive branded goods from Western countries. His work also speaks to the widespread desire and need to preserve Vietnamese heritage and traditions. It is this well known dichotomy, the juxtaposition of East and West, traditional and modern, that makes his work so poignant. It is his fresh perspective and unique interpretation that makes his work so remarkable.
