VI
EN
The exhibition "Searching for Memories" by artist Doan Quoc Hoi brings together 31 watercolor paintings created recently. With three overarching themes inspired by the national heritage, it's like a film reel rewinding to the past, where the artist, like a son far from home, returns to the memories of a moss-covered Hanoi, an ancient Hue, and a lingering glimmer of yesterday's light...
It seems that all of these are nostalgic memories from the past that the artist longs to seek out, gather, preserve, cherish, and express through the beauty of painting, where colors and light radiate.
"Searching for Memories" by artist Doan Quoc Hoi brings together 31 watercolor paintings created recently.
There have been many paintings of Hanoi before, but they were usually created in the present moment, on that particular street corner; rarely did anyone delve into the past. But with young artist Doan Quoc, it's different. He takes viewers back in time, recreating a nostalgic Hanoi of the past. Through his delicate brushstrokes, the male artist has proven that even things that seem to have faded with time can be brought back to life vividly through painting.
Speaking with a Travellive reporter, artist Doan Quoc shared: "Hanoi and Hue are two distinct cultural regions of Vietnam that are clearly showcased in this exhibition. Every brushstroke, every color carries the breath of time. For me, the gentle flow of each day allows me to visualize and clearly feel the memories of the past. The watercolor paintings are like a play of light, emphasizing each shade of light and shadow, evoking profound thoughts and reflections in the viewer. Through them, we feel as if we are reliving past moments, reliving the beauty of traditional culture."
Artist Doan Quoc speaks at the exhibition.
The artwork "The Light Burdens Return Home"
The work "Night in the Capital"
Artist Doan Quoc, whose full name is Doan Cao Quoc, was born in 1996 in Quang Ngai. He graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts and belongs to the second generation of watercolor painters in Vietnam. He is among the few Vietnamese to have been awarded the International Watercolor Masters certificate from the International Watercolor Society of the United Kingdom and has participated in and won many prestigious awards.
Notable achievements include: the IWS International Watercolor Exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, the 2019 Young Artists' BIENNALE, the Fabriano International Watercolor Exhibition in Italy, participation in the Sketch Tour International in Can Tho; IWS International Watercolor Exhibitions in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Dubai, India… In 2020 alone, Doan Quoc's paintings won third prize at an international watercolor exhibition held in France. He also won the A prize at a creative workshop exhibition organized by the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Ho Chi Minh City...
Artist Doan Quoc, whose full name is Doan Cao Quoc, was born in 1996 in Quang Ngai. He graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts and belongs to the second generation of watercolor painters in Vietnam.
"Searching for Memories" is Đoàn Quốc's second solo exhibition, but his first in Hanoi. Not born and raised in Hanoi, he sees himself as a stranger, a traveler gazing upon Thăng Long (Hanoi) with a fresh, pure, curious, and captivating love. "Ultimately, these are personal perspectives expressed through art, dedicated to Hanoi, and I wouldn't dare consider them as in-depth research reconstructions of a specific historical period," the artist explains.
"One early winter morning"
Artist Doan Quoc further stated that, as a bridge between the past and the present, objects, as witnesses to history and time, having changed hands many times, witnessed the rise and fall of eras, have given voice to nostalgia and the past. Besides Hanoi and Hue, still life is also included in Doan Quoc's paintings in this exhibition.
Here are chrysanthemums, roses, lotuses... beauties that have been intertwined with the Vietnamese people for millennia. This beauty shines brightly, radiating fragrance in a way that is both quiet and vibrant, mysterious and fragile, free and bound, yearning to rise proudly yet yearning to droop and rest, pure and impure, real and illusory... Perhaps these contradictions are a reflection of the multifaceted nature of human existence, sometimes solitary and alone, sometimes intertwined, relying on each other to reach the light? Looking back at history, looking towards nostalgia, is actually a way to illuminate our own selves in the present day.
Besides Hanoi and Hue, still life paintings are also included by artist Doan Quoc in his works for this exhibition.
Looking at the paintings of artist Doan Quoc, viewers can see his skillful way of subtly incorporating the essence of traditional Vietnamese culture into his artwork. For example, the vases in his paintings easily reveal the renowned Vietnamese ceramics, while the still lifes surrounding the vases all possess an exquisite craftsmanship.
Commenting on Doan Quoc's work, artist Le The Anh said: "We all see that returning to the past to paint is not easy. Painting Hanoi in a way that is uniquely yours is even more difficult. Perhaps Quoc returned to the past to create something different, a different perspective on Hanoi. The lines are free and flexible, yet precise, encompassing a wealth of emotions controlled by masterful technique. It can be said that Quoc's paintings are very poetic. The poetry of a romantic who loves life, full of energy and emotion. No one would have thought that such a young artist, born in 1996, would have such impactful exhibitions."
The exhibition "Searching for Memories" by artist Doan Quoc will be open from August 10th to August 18th, 2024 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
"Spring Market Night"
"Transition period" (1)
The artwork "The Seed Reaches the Altar"
"Everyday Sounds"
Painting "On the Street on a Winter Morning"
Visitors come to see the exhibition.
