The West is so beautiful, even though 'What's so beautiful about ducks? Why draw ducks running in the fields?'

The public enjoys the exhibition "Heat" at the newly launched QS Art Space - Photo: H.VY

"Heat" is the first group exhibition launched at QS Art Space, on display from now until March 24 at Quang San Art Museum (189B/3 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City).

The fate of passion and love for art

The exhibition brings together the works of four artists Luong Luu Bien, Huynh Thao, Vo Thanh Than and Dang Quang Tien. Each has a different perspective, style and material, but shares the same passion for color and art.

According to art researcher Ngo Kim Khoi, the miraculous encounter with "Heat" of the four painters gives viewers the opportunity to enjoy many schools of thought, and diverse themes of contemporary Vietnamese art.

Huynh Thao's lacquer paintings are always filled with a deep, feminine quality. Her style has become more mature and gentle compared to the exhibition "Dreamland" 5 years ago.

Artist Vo Thanh Than from Hue brings very good derivative ideas from famous international paintings, attracting viewers with his origami strokes and bold colors.

Artist Luong Luu Bien immediately makes viewers recognize him with his large pieces, structures and very special human body compositions that have left their mark in many exhibitions both domestically and internationally.

He is also making innovations in a more semi-abstract direction, offering freedom, big thinking and a more holistic view of life through the naked human identity.

Foreign visitors enjoy paintings by artist Luong Luu Bien - Photo: H.VY

As for Dang Quang Tien, the youngest artist at the exhibition (born in 1992), he made viewers excited with 6 paintings of the Southwestern countryside filled with affectionate feelings.

"Tien's works are meticulous and careful works, and friends often joke that one of Tien's ducks must be sold for... tens of millions. This is a flock of ducks running in the fields. The attention to detail is very rare among young artists today" - art researcher Ngo Kim Khoi feels.

A flock of ducks running in the field in the work "Afternoon in the Countryside 2" by artist Dang Quang Tien

Finding myself while painting the West

Looking at Tien's paintings of the West, it is easy to feel the love, passion and affection that the young artist has for his homeland.

Tien was born in Ben Tre , in 2010 he went to Saigon to work for a year and then returned to his hometown to join the army. After returning, Tien went to Ho Chi Minh City to study fine arts and graduated in 2019. The young artist has made his mark with his unique use of watercolors and paintings of street vendors, Saigon, and the Central Coast...

But during the pandemic, when Tien had more time to pick up a brush and go to the West, to paint the fields, mangrove forests, flocks of storks, flocks of ducks... Tien found his own path. Just paint freely, comfortably, paint the familiar things that move him, paint what is his: the West.

Painter Dang Quang Tien with the painting "Afternoon in the Countryside 2" at the Nhiet exhibition - Photo: H.VY

"Many people wonder: What's so beautiful about ducks? Why draw ducks running in the fields? But when drawing, Tien has a lot of emotions. Scenes that people often think are not special, now looking back, I miss them and feel sorry for them.

Tien's paintings do not have any profound thoughts, as long as people enjoy and feel comfortable looking at them" - Tien smiled simply. It sounds simple, but behind each of Tien's large paintings are long days of hard work, many of which take up to two or three months...

Tien kept painting until he felt he was done, and then stopped. He had already finished dozens of paintings. The happiest thing was that people started to remember Tien as being associated with the West, instead of remembering him as a watercolor artist like before.

Tien's watercolor paintings are very different, not as smooth and soft as usual, but sharp and impressive like oil or acrylic. Painting familiar countryside themes, but the way Tien composes, shapes and arranges details makes the paintings not "corny" but still close and familiar.

Like the way Tien did not draw ducks running in the fields, but drew eggs left in the middle of the straw field. That image must still be anchored in the memories of many people in the West, but now it has gradually become rare. Even in Tien's hometown, it is no longer seen, Tien has to wander to find materials in other provinces...

In the near future, Tien will challenge himself with other materials, combining many materials on canvas. But the theme is still the West because inspiration has never run out. Tien cherishes painting about houses, architecture, and typical materials of the Mekong Delta.

Just keep drawing, without setting any lofty goals, because for Tien, a child of the West, being able to draw his homeland is already happiness and pride.

Work "Afternoon in the Countryside 4" by Dang Quang Tien

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mien-tay-dep-nao-long-du-ua-vit-co-gi-dep-dau-sao-lai-ve-vit-chay-dong-20240308204716677.htm