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Decline of civilisation: Oil on canvas Behind the Known by artist Pham Tran Viet Nam. |
HCM CITY — Muscian and artist Pham Tran Viet Nam says the aim of his latest painting exhibition is to prick the conscience of viewers so they will behave in a kinder and more ethical manner.
In his 18 oil paintings, Nam says the exhibition called Phia Sau Tri Thuc (Behind the Known), which depicts the dark side of humanity, will cause people to think more carefully and be less cruel to one another.
Each painting, with titles from No 1 to No 18, contains faces in various shapes behind a conference table. The people's cruel and evil plans and thoughts are exposed in the works.
"To me, painting is a war between imagination and intellect, and between inner feelings and appearances," Nam said.
Nam paints with colours like red, dark-blue, brown and yellow to portray deformed characters, sorrowful sounds, and humanity's insensitivity to misery or cruelty.
Although Nam's paintings are filled with violent images, their beauty comes from "a lovely craziness", according to an art critic of the Tu Do Gallery where the exhibition is being held.
Born in 1985 in Da Nang Province, Nam is the son of well-known sculptor Pham Van Hang.
He graduated from the HCM City Fine Arts College in 2010 specialising in sculpture, and has had painting exhibition in HCM City and Ha Noi.
Nam is the leader of rock group Giao Chi which was established a year ago. He says music is his job while art is his long-life career.
Nam's exhibition runs until Sunday, at Tu Do Gallery, 53 Ho Tung Mau Street, District 1, HCM City. — VNS