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Tune up: The Lute with Broken Strings, an oil painting by To Chiem at the Tu Do Gallery. |
HCM CITY — Black and golden brown hues dominate the lacquer works of veteran painter Ngo Thanh Nhan as he portrays the beauty of natural landscapes and rural women in the highlands.
Nhan's Thieu Nu Dao Do (The Dao Girl) and Thuyen (Boat) are two of 11 paintings now on display at the prestigious Tu Do Gallery in HCM City. The works display a variety of traditional and contemporary styles.
Nhan, a native of Ha Noi and a graduate of the city's Industrial Fine Arts College, has devoted himself to lacquer, the traditional material that has found increasing acceptance from art lovers over several decades.
He has introduced his works in dozens of solo and group exhibitions in Ha Noi, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The 55-year-old artist said he hopes the show will be warmly received by city residents.
Another artist features in the exhibtion is To Chiem, 46, whose preferred medium is oil. In his own words, the medium makes it "easier to see traditional and contemporary Viet Nam being portrayed with a new vigour and passion by younger artists".
But, added Chiem, a graduate of the Ha Noi Fine Arts University, "the traditional spirit is still overwhelmingly present".
On display are 10 large oil paintings that reflect Chiem's love for music.
"By painting, I found myself in music," he said.
Chiem's favourite work is called The Lute with Broken Strings, which shows a naked woman playing a four-chord lute.
Using light blues and yellows, he looks into the inner spirits of the woman and her instrument.
Two of Chiem's series, Song Tau (A Duet) and Tam Tau (A Trio), have been called expressionist by some art lovers.
"Each of my works tells a story of life, love and people," said Chiem.
Beginning his career in 1991, Chiem has displayed his works at home and abroad, including Singapore, China and France.
The exhibition will run until April 12 at 218A Pasteur Street in District 3. The paintings on sale cost between US$2,000 and $3,000. — VNS