The exhibition, with 15 large-scale paintings and two ceramic sculptures, curated by Nguyen Hai Nam, is the result of more than three years of continuous creation. From the peaceful fishing village life of La Gi, Binh Thuan, artist Thien Phuc has breathed life into each of his works, turning them into reminders of the endless vitality of nature and warnings about the impact of humans on their own living environment.
Hoang Thien Phuc was born in 1994 and grew up in the peaceful fishing village of La Gi, Binh Thuan. After graduating from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, Phuc immersed himself in the vibrant art scene in the city, but in the end, the decision to return to his hometown led him on a new creative journey. Phuc's works not only reflect the changing landscape of his homeland but also contain poetic lines and philosophical notes, creating a colorful and profound artistic world.
Exhibition entrance at B3 floor, Apricot Hotel
“The Gentleman Tree” – the theme of this exhibition – is a symbol of the strong vitality of nature, always persistently existing and growing in the face of all challenges. This is a concept created by Mr. Thien Phuc, which does not exist in nature, symbolizing the resilient, symbiotic and resistant natural organism. In his paintings, Phuc depicts solitary, broken or leaning tree trunks, with thorny lines expressing endurance and hardship in the face of nature and human intervention.
Exhibition with 15 paintings and 2 ceramic sculptures
Each painting in “The Gentleman’s Tree” carries a profound message about the relationship between humans and nature, inviting viewers to reflect on greed and disrespect for the environment. Against a bright neon background, Phuc depicts a scene that is both magical and desolate. The withered tree trunks, the ropes protecting them from the wind, or the boy holding up a fallen tree. Viewers may wonder if this scene is a brief moment of a storm or the harsh reality that humans must face.
The two ceramic sculptures on display this time create a different artistic dialogue but are still within the creative flow that Mr. Phuc pursues. They are abstract but symbolic shapes, expressing the struggle and vitality of nature when facing great challenges. All are images that express the struggle and struggle between natural vitality and the destruction caused by humans.
Artist Thien Phuc shared that he always tries to preserve authentic values, and believes that the power of love and optimism will preserve the most beautiful things. This exhibition is a reminder of the peace and balance between humans and nature – where both are nurtured and protected.
Thien Phuc’s creativity and artistic practice are influenced by many famous painters, including Paul Cézanne. Just as Cézanne often traveled between Paris and Aix-en-Provence to find inspiration, Phuc also traveled back and forth between Ho Chi Minh City and his hometown La Gi. Returning to the fishing village where he was born, he found abundant inspiration from the natural landscape and village culture. Instead of simply composing, he began to write poems, record his thoughts, and from there create fictional stories, exploring more about literature. This is also the “conceptual foundation” for his compositions in the past three years.
Each painting in “The Gentleman Tree” is a profound message about the relationship between humans and nature.
The relationship between humans and nature has become a prominent theme in Phuc’s works since he returned to La Gi. As he once said: “Nature is the free beauty that humans always yearn for.” The freedom of nature is something that humans seem to want to control and possess, but ultimately only leads to destruction. Through the exhibition “The Gentleman Tree,” Phuc wants to open a serious dialogue about the impact of humans on the environment, while also calling on viewers to reflect on the relationship they have with nature.
The creativity of artist Thien Phuc also has a special value because he not only tries to express the natural beauty but also wants to touch the consciousness of the viewer. The seemingly inanimate plants in Phuc's paintings bring many big questions to the public. This is what makes the exhibition "The Gentleman Tree" special, where viewers are invited not only to admire the beauty of art but also to face the real challenges of the times - about greed, indifference and responsibility to protect the planet.
More than just an art exhibition, “The Gentleman Tree” is also a reminder, a subtle message about the enduring power of nature. The exhibition is a testament to Hoang Thien Phuc’s belief that, regardless of any intervention, nature always finds a way to regenerate and adapt. The exhibition “The Gentleman Tree” not only affirms his talent but also brings to the public a meaningful space to enjoy art and contains many thoughts about life and nature in the present era.
The exhibition opens from October 11 to November 24, 2024 at Mo Art Space (B3 floor, Apricot Hotel, Hanoi), where the public can admire the works of artist Thien Phuc in a quiet and contemplative space.
Some pictures at the exhibition:
Painter Thien Phuc shared that he himself
always seek to preserve authentic values
The exhibition opens a serious dialogue about the human impact on nature.
