Shapes and sizes: Children and adults enjoy printed art by Benjamin Badock on display at the Goethe Institute in Ha Noi. — VNS Photo Le Huong

HA NOI (VNS)  — An exhibition of large, colourful graphic art prints by Benjamin Badock, considered one of the most important young artists in Germany, will run until November 2 at the Goethe Institute, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc.

The collection, That's New - What's Next, comprises 30 paintings by Badock. He made them by using ready-made printing elements, similar to a child's construction kit, and developing one new image after another from basic geometric shapes.

Badock said he wanted visitors to use their imaginations while observing his art.

"For example, I named this set A Rainy Day at the Sea," he said, pointing at a set of four printed paintings. "You can see there are parts of a kiosk offering ice cream at the beach. But the audience may have its own interpretation. Someone told me earlier today he imagined a car, and someone else said it's a bus."

Badock received the third artist's residency grant from the Cultural Foundation of Saxony for Viet Nam. In December, he will be awarded the prestigious German Sprengel Award for his artistic oeuvre.

A German-language student, Dinh Trong Nghia, said Badock's collection creates complicated visual effects, though it looks simple at first glance.

"It is like a unique geometric arrangement game using striking blocks," he said.

During his two-month stay in Viet Nam, Badock said he will try to experience local life to get inspiration for future creations. He'll also explore two of his main interests, traditional papermaking and woodcutting, which have a long history in both Germany and Viet Nam.

Local painters Nguyen Nghia Phuong and Pham Khac Quang will join Badock for a talk about art on October 16 at the institute. He will also spend time with local artists through the institute, and conduct workshops at art academies in Ha Noi and Hue.

Badock was born in Karl-Marx-Stadt, now Chemnitz, in 1974. He studied art at the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Braunschweig Academy of Fine Arts from 2001 to 2008. — VNS