An artwork by artist Le Hai
The second exhibition “Tingting Art Fair” from May 23 to Jun 15 featured 50 artworks of varied genres and materials such as oil, lacquer, acrylic, graphic, sculpture, and installation by 22 young artists who converged on the event at Secret Studio with their creative energy.
"Tingting Art Fair" was organized in an open space which allowed the artists to freely choose from an endless array of topics. Interestingly, even the displayed artworks were nameless to arouse viewers’ imagination and emotions. In this lively art space, viewers could admire the works of Nguyen Thanh Trung, Vu Duy Tam, Tran Huu Nhat, Nguyen Trung Kien, Nguyen Anh Duong ...
Besides the paintings depicting the aesthetic beauty of the landscape, flowers, nature, and the depth of woman’s portraits, many works told the stories of social life, of the author's inner world, and even of current issues such as the COVID-19 epidemic.
Grasping attention with abstractionism, Le Hai's works reflected the original creativity of a young artist who dared to try and explore new ventures on his art journey. Hai's concerns and metaphorical philosophy of human life were well conveyed in his artworks using strong colors and lines that bore his unique signature.
An artwork by artist Do Van Lan
Known as a daring adventurer, young artist Nguyen Trung Kien portrayed a young lady practicing meditation on burlap canvas. Old as the topic may seem, the rugged and sturdy feel of the old burlap material gave the artwork a distinct personality.
With three exhibited paintings on the topic of women, artist Do Van Lan honored the physical and spiritual beauty of women that even words find hard to describe. This was also a gesture of gratitude to mothers who give birth to and raise their children, and to wives who love and sacrifice for their families.
Opened in early 2020, Secret Studio has been an exciting art space to make art more accessible to the public. Located by the romantic blue river, the space tells visual stories via artistic creations by the young artists such as paintings, installations, and music.
More than a conventional art exhibition, art fair operates on open principles, from the target participants to themes, materials, art forms, etc.
The second "Tingting Art Fair" was where professional artists and outliers whose jobs has nothing to do with arts intersected. For some, this was the first time they exhibited their paintings, which were chosen for exhibition based on their high quality.
An artwork by artist Nguyen Anh Duong
Artist Nguyen Thanh Trung, founder of Secret Studio said: “We created this art space as a playground for young artists and enthusiasts who have yet to participate in professional exhibitions to display their works. Monthly exhibitions at the studio also motivate young artists. In the absence of professional art spaces in Hue, we hope Secret Studio will pioneer to connect the hearts of art lovers.”
In addition to organizing monthly exhibitions, Secret Studio also aims at art activities for the broader community. This space will also host workshops on art fundamentals for artists and the amateurs such as students and tourists, or experience “One day as an artist" program on the weekends.
These activities would encourage interaction and bring art closer to the public, so that the studio will be known as an art destination rather than just a gallery.
Story and photos: TRANG HIEN