The chilly feeling of winter begins with Hai Hung Vang’s lacquer painting The Mountains. This former student of the Vietnam University of Fine Art is from the Giay ethnic group, born and raised in Quang Kim, Bat Xat. For Hai Hung, “Painting is life. If writers and journalists tell stories and reflect social issues using languages, painters will convey concerns, messages and responses using images.” Regarding his work at the 1618m Gallery, Hai Hung said frankly: “The Mountains was inspired by the poor villages in the mountainous region that are being split up and levelled to get space for planning projects.” The rolling mountains depicted in the painting now only exist in the layers of lacquer, eggshells, silver and gold leaves.