A monoprint on Do paper by artist Donald Damask to be displayed at an upcoming exhibition in Hanoi.

An art exhibition depicting a distortion of façades and colors will be held in Hanoi beginning Friday.

Titled “Blood, Sweat & Tears,” the exhibits features 33 monoprints by American artist Donald Damask.

The artist visited the capital city in 2005 and was inspired by the colors and materials native to Hanoi.

The first 22 works are printed on handmade cotton paper from Italy emphasizing subtle nuances of color and texture.

Visitors can also view 11 monoprints on traditional handmade Do paper from northern Vietnam.

The paper is produced from the Do plant (Rhamnoneuron balansae) and has been used in Vietnam for centuries. It is best known for its use in time-honored Vietnamese Dong Ho paintings.

Monoprinting is a form of printmaking where images and lines are not reproduced exactly. There are many techniques of monoprinting, including collage, hand-painted additions, and a form of tracing by which thick ink is laid down on a table, paper is placed on top and is then drawn on, transferring the ink onto the paper.

Monoprinting has been employed by many artists over the years including Georg Baselitz, Tracy Emin, Rembrandt and Edgar Degas.

After graduating from the New York University School of the Arts, Damask began working as a printmaker, painter and creative director for advertising and fashion agencies in both the U.K. and U.S.

The artist has displayed his work in the U.S., Italy and Hong Kong.

The exhibit will run until October 15 at the Art Vietnam Gallery, 7 Nguyen Khac Nhu Street, Ba Dinh District.

Reported by Phuong Anh