Mai Thu offers his collectors a visual poetry of his homeland through his ‘occidentalised’ version of Vietnamese art. The portrayal of women or children in a peaceful domestic setting is a recurring motif in Mai Thu’s oeuvre. Two musicians encapsulates the tender moment of two boys playing a flute. The painting is made up of ink and gouache on silk – a technique originating from École des Beaux Arts d’Indochine, devised to apply European techniques whilst utilising local materials. Mai Thu favoured this medium as ink allowed for a precision of line, demonstrated in the outlines and the many folds in the boys’ clothing.

Two Boys Playing the Flute is from a sought after period as it was created after Mai Thu had ample time to refine his technique having settled in France for over a decade. This sweet depiction of a familiar scene is tinged with a nostalgic vision of his homeland, which Mai Thu generously shares with his collectors.