Three paintings of late Vietnamese painter Bui Xuan Phai will go under the hammer at the "Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Art" session of Singaporean auctioneer Larasati on June 17.

Street Scene With Cyclist And Bull-Cart by Bui Xuan Phai (Source: thanhnien.vn)

They are oil on cardboard paintings entitled "Bien" (Sea), "Hai Dien Vien Cheo Cam Quat" (Two Cheo Actors With Fans), and "Pho Voi Nguoi Di Xe dap Va Xe Bo" (Street Scene With Cyclist And Bull-cart).

Their respective estimated values are up to 13,500 USD, 12,750 USD, and 11,250 USD.

One of Vietnam's best-known artists, Phai (1920-88) was born and lived all his life in Hanoi. He was a graduate of Indochina Fine Arts College.

For most of his life he worked in his studio at 87 Thuoc Bac street. He left a huge art heritage, among which pictures of the ancient streets of Hanoi, are the most famous.

He also drew cheo (traditional opera) and countryside. Phai had only one solo exhibition in his lifetime.

Source: VNA