The transformation process of young artist Trinh Cam Nhi

After many years of exposure to Italian art and graduating with a degree in Painting in this country, artist Trinh Cam Nhi returned to Vietnam and organized her first solo exhibition called Garden of Eden at the Italian Cultural Center in Vietnam in 2020. Opening the "White Night" studio is Trinh Cam Nhi's recent art exhibition in Hanoi, with works that are a unique combination of Western painting and Eastern materials.

Trinh Cam Nhi is considered one of the promising young faces of contemporary Vietnamese painting.

Having left an impression on audiences with the image of the human body and flowers, in recent years, artist Trinh Cam Nhi has transformed herself with a new artistic style. The chessboard layout is the foundation for each of the artist's works. This layout becomes a means for the artist to experiment with optical illusions, exploring form and symbolism. Along the squares, Cam Nhi's expressive brushstrokes create an organic form of intersection between the body and the landscape, expressing her artistic vision that is gradually moving towards abstraction. Nhi's "White Night" exhibition this time is the same, Nhi's creations and thoughts are expressed on a number of works with a chessboard layout, bringing a mysterious and unique perspective.

Artist Trinh Cam Nhi said: “The main theme of this series of works is very much related to childhood memories, over time it changes, some memories grow up, some memories disappear. I want to exploit the movement of memories inside each person, how they change over time. Besides, the image of the egg also says a lot about this childhood theme, containing many meanings, both childhood and femininity and a new beginning. I was trained in Italy and my way of thinking and creating works is greatly influenced by the West and I chose Do paper. I think this is a very interesting combination, if a layout with a strong Western breath like that is placed on Do paper, what will it look like?”

The interesting point in this exhibition is that the young artist continues to change and experiment with new materials - watercolor, ink, and acrylic on Do paper. Thanks to the rough textured surface of Do paper and the contrast in materials between acrylic and ink, Cam Nhi's paintings reveal a spaciousness, sophistication, and poetic quality; her brushstrokes also gradually become direct and expressive. If before, Cam Nhi focused on shifting the "view" through the use of a chessboard layout, now she has turned to building her own artistic vision.

Highly appreciating the creative process and works in the “White Night” exhibition, Ms. Sophie Huang, Art Historian - Director of Vietnam Art Collection VAC said: “We are fortunate to see Nhi at this important moment in her artistic development. Trinh Cam Nhi’s works in the “White Night” Workshop demonstrate the evolution of her artistic practice. Over the past year, we have had the opportunity to witness Nhi’s creative journey. Nhi’s works have shifted from focusing on female figures to gradually incorporating more abstract elements. Her evolution suggests a deep exploration of form, color and composition, going beyond mere depiction. The “White Night” Workshop provides a valuable opportunity to appreciate the diversity of Trinh Cam Nhi’s works and the evolution of her artistic language.”

In the exhibition space, works ranging from chessboard compositions to egg, circle and flower images reflect the transformation in the young artist's artistic style. In addition, Cam Nhi uses repeated motifs such as eggs, curtains, whirlpools - symbols originating from childhood memories, the innocence in each person, bringing a new approach to the art-loving public.

Viewer Luong Vi shared: “The repeated images like the curtain, the egg shape, the whirlpools give me a feeling of both reality and dream. It is very interesting that Do paper is mounted on canvas, Do paper is a traditional Vietnamese paper. Before, I only saw Dong Ho paintings, but today I see a promising young Vietnamese artist applying Western perspectives like the chessboard layout to Do paper, this is an Eastern combination.”

The exhibition “White Night” by artist Trinh Cam Nhi is open to the public until July 31 this year at VAC Hanoi, 6/44/11 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi. Following the successful residency of Cam Nhi, VAC will launch a residency program with the participation of two promising artists from Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to create conditions for talent development, broaden the vision of young Vietnamese artists, continuing their creative journey and professional development.

Source: https://vov.vn/van-hoa/qua-trinh-chuyen-minh-cua-hoa-si-tre-trinh-cam-nhi-post1108006.vov