A Floating Exhibition Amidst Vietnam’s Ocean Skyscape
Pham Luc’s Fine Art in the World’s Most Beautiful Bays
From the majestic bays of Ha Long and Lan Ha to the poetic shores of Nha Trang—natural wonders recognized among the most beautiful bays in the world—Pham Luc’s paintings now sail alongside the waves. Here, his art is not confined to gallery walls, but breathes in the open air, borne by memory, national spirit, and an enduring love for life. Aboard Emperor Cruises—luxurious royal-style yachts operated by Lux Cruises Group—his works become a living cultural soul, interwoven with heritage, aesthetics, and upper-class travel.
This is more than an exhibition. It is a floating visual experience, a seaborne gallery aboard Vietnam’s pioneering boutique cruise line. Around 25 plein air paintings—carefully selected from the LuxArts Collection of over 500 original works—are displayed at sea, representing less than 10% of Pham Luc’s artistic output of over 6,000 works. Each piece offers a journey through Vietnam’s history—from war to peace, from hardship to hope, from village life to urban rhythms—all conveyed through a consistent, unmistakable artistic voice.
Born in 1943 in the imperial city of Hue and descended from the family line of literary legend Nguyễn Du, Pham Luc graduated from the Hanoi University of Fine Arts in 1977. He is a senior member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and one of the few Vietnamese painters whose works have been collected and exhibited worldwide—in the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, and Australia. To many international scholars, he is known as a “historian with a brush,” capturing not just images but the Vietnamese soul.
Each of his paintings flows between realism and emotional depth. The Flame from the Heart evokes the sacred bond of wartime comradeship; Dream is a quiet prayer for two fragile souls; Where I Was Born recalls the homeland through bamboo groves, village ponds, and old communal houses. Whether using oil, watercolor, pastel, or Chinese ink, on canvas, dó paper, or repurposed rice sacks, Pham Luc’s work always radiates a deep musicality of color and a heartfelt Vietnamese identity.
The Royal Lounge aboard Emperor Cruises Origin and Legend is not merely a gallery—it is a living art space at sea, where heritage is told through brushstrokes, and art becomes an immersive experience. In this unique setting, passengers are invited to engage with each painting amidst ocean breezes, salt air, and a refined ambiance inspired by royal aesthetics. This innovative exhibition model breaks the static boundary of conventional galleries, bringing Vietnamese fine art into the global conversation.
Pham Luc shared:
“I embraced the bold idea of exhibiting my paintings at sea—even with the salty air and ocean winds. Both my paintings and the ship are drifting vessels of memory, carrying stories of a Vietnam that once was and is yet to come. I often paint women, family, love for the homeland. I don’t want to paint sadness—I paint hope. Bright colors are the light of life.”
Professor Thomas J. Vallely, Vietnam expert at Harvard University, remarked:
“Pham Luc’s emotional language is Vietnam. Every time I visit Hanoi, I stop by his modest home, where his paintings quietly narrate the nation’s history. His art is a door to the Vietnamese soul. I feel privileged to bring a piece of Vietnam into my own home.”
Behind this visionary exhibition is Dr. Pham Ha—Chairman of LuxGroup, a renowned collector and cultural entrepreneur. In 2016, he curated the first Sea of Love exhibition in Nha Trang and has since preserved and expanded the concept, curating over 500 original works by Pham Luc. As chief curator, he personally selected the plein air paintings created by the artist during his time in Nha Trang—works capturing the sea, fishermen, coastal life, heritage, marine biodiversity, and local philosophies of harmony and sustainability.
“Sea of Love reflects the union of humanity and the sea—where art, nature, and culture converge,” said Dr. Pham Ha. “These paintings are not only beautiful, but deeply local, deeply Vietnamese.”
As a pioneer in fusing fine art with heritage travel, Dr. Pham Ha sees this floating exhibition not only as a cultural showcase but as a way to narrate Vietnam through art—to let painting live in the open, where the spirit of the land and sea meets the soul of the viewer.
Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Tuyết
