A contemplating space for multi-style artworks
In the succession of Hue art movements, local artists have just released alluring artworks that were novel, splendid and strange from themes to techniques and materials used.
Recently, 25 Hue artist-members of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association have published 34 new paintings in the exhibition “Sắc thu” (The Autumn Nuances) at Le Ba Dang Arts Center. Many of these works would soon be exhibited at the 23rd Art Exhibition in North Central Vietnam on August 14 in Ha Tinh.
“Bản Sonate mùa hạ” (The Summer Sonata) by Nguyen Thien Duc
With the presence of talented and renowned names such as Nguyen Thien Duc, Dang Mau Tuu, Dang Mau Triet, Phan Hai Bang, Nguyen Thi Hai Hoa, To Tran Bich Thuy… the exhibition offered viewers a contemplating space for artistic enjoyment. With a variety of materials, such as: oil, acrylic, lacquer, graphic, truc chi (bamboo paper), silk, and synthetic… these highly selective works were the heart and soul of great artists, reflecting their distinct, sophisticated techniques and endless creativity.
Assoc. Prof., Dr. Phan Thanh Binh, Rector of Hue University of Arts, said: "These 34 new works have amazed the public in various ways: Artists who did not do lacquer paintings now created incredibly successful lacquer works. Some abstract paintings tended to refer to external visual reality rather than bear simply pure abstractions. Nguyen Thien Duc's painting "The Summer Sonata" was a typical example. The artist was highly praised for his skills, visual thinking, and proficient use of colors, which helped reveal the depth of artworks and convey the feelings of life to viewers."
"The thrilling car trips" – by Hoang Thanh Phong
Many works truly appealed to viewers’ artistic senses by leading them to the artistic metaphors underlying each masterpiece. Such artworks as "The heritage road" by artist Cong Huyen Ton Nu Tuyet Mai, "Shadow of the Dynasty" by artist Dang Mau Triet, "The predecessor’s silhouette" by artist Pham Trinh, all reminded viewers of preserving the ancestors’ legacy. Artist Nguyen Hung employed the motif used in the Sinh village folk paintings to recapture daily-life activities in his artwork “Trò” (Games) and “Múa” (Dance).
Some authors portrayed autumn in various subtle hues. While the two artworks of Dang Thu An, “Hoa nắng” (Flowers in the sun) featured the image of flowers in brightest yellows, Ngo Tam’s “Hương sen” (Lotus scent) with warm colors depicted a sense of purity and elegance. Pham Hoang Anh's artwork “Thiếu nữ Huế” (Hue’s young ladies) portrayed the simplicity and grace of two Hue ladies in the symbolic ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress).
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"The frontier’s nostalgia" by Dang Mau Tuu
August is also reminiscent of two historical events: August Revolution and National Independence Day - September 2nd. This explains why the exhibition "Autumn Nuances" housed many paintings about war, reflecting the spirit of heroism against foreign invasion to defend for and build the country. These artworks included Hoang Thanh Phong's "The thrilling car trips", Le Ba Cang's “Dưới chân thành cổ” ("Under the Ancient Citadel"), Dang Mau Tuu's "The Frontier’s Nostalgia".
With regards to the nation’s revolutionary war, artist Hoang Thanh Phong’s work "The thrilling car trips" successfully evoked strong emotions in the public. The image of a car overcoming bomb fires was a reminder of such difficult wartime against the American. The enemy destroyed the roads, so the car tires had to be deflated so that the car could run on steel wires to timely transport goods to the battlefield. The image of a flat-tire car on the road revealed such a harsh reality of the war, as well as the determination and strong desire for victory of the whole nation.
"Young artists, though not yet undergo past experience, and seemingly never think much of the revolutionary war, indeed clearly understand the nation’s loss and sacrifice in the war. They look at the war with totally distinct views, thus convey completely different messages through their works,” Assoc. Prof., Dr. Phan Thanh Binh commented.
"Hue young ladies" by Pham Hoang Anh
With the participation of several well-known names, this on-going exhibition of North-Central region was home to a wide range of Hue’s signature artworks. Created by the professionals, these excellent pieces varied in form to theme and material, promising to fill viewers with special emotions towards arts. There, the beauty and the depth of the inner world are metaphorically portrayed through the outline of figurative language using visual imagery and material techniques.
Story, photos: Nguyet Tu