This is a special art event, marking the unique intersection between two creative styles, two artistic souls from two great cultures - Japan and Vietnam. The exhibition not only displays fascinating works but also opens up a space for reflection on art, faith, femininity and the relationship between humans and nature.
Two exhibitions are currently on display at the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts.
"Movement in Stillness": The Spirit of Meditation in Creativity
Japanese artist Katsumi Mukai, whose career spans decades, presents “Movement in Stillness”, a collection of wood sculptures and pencil drawings. Through each detail, he recreates the harmony between nature and man, between movement and stillness. For Mukai, creativity is not just about creating works, but also a way of life, a journey to find peace and balance in life.
"Movement in Stillness": The Spirit of Meditation in Creativity
Mukai is known for his calm working style and absolute devotion to his art. He likens his creation to a form of meditation, in which each stroke of the chisel on wood or each stroke of the pen on paper is an expression of his soul. For him, wood and paper – the two main materials in his works – are not just materials but also a means of connecting with nature. He explains that the core essence of paper comes from wood, and when he works with paper, he feels like he is continuing his creative journey through wood.
Mukai's wood carvings, with their rustic yet profound beauty, express the spirit of living in harmony with nature. Each line exudes calmness and peace, but hidden within it is the intense vitality of the universe. Along with that, his pencil drawings, though simple in form, have a powerful expression, like whispers from deep within the earth. Mukai not only makes art, but he lives with art, bringing viewers into a space filled with pure energy and genuine emotions.
For him, wood and paper are not only materials but also means of connecting with nature.
"Vow": A Journey to Honor Femininity and Faith
The exhibition "Nguyen" by artist and art theorist Nguyen Quan is a passionate project that has been nurtured since 2017, when he returned to his passion for creation after a long time focusing on research and writing. With 16 oil paintings, 7 sculptures and an architectural simulation of the project "Nguyen Mau Temple", the exhibition is a prayer, honoring femininity and the beautiful, pristine beauty of people through the ages.
Nguyen Quan was inspired by the tragic period of humanity – the Covid-19 pandemic. He described this as a time when anxiety, fear, and grief spread everywhere, but also in which mother earth and nature were miraculously revived. "Nguyễn" was born as a symbol of hope and rebirth in those difficult days.
The exhibition "Vow" by artist and art theorist Nguyen Quan is a passionate project that has been nurtured since 2017.
The central idea of the exhibition, Nguyen Mau Temple, is an artistic work that combines architecture, sculpture, painting and spirituality. Nguyen Quan shared that the main theme of the project is "Beauty - Love - Birth" - the belief in femininity, love and fertility, symbolizing the principles that sustain human life and happiness. The project is not religious, but evokes profound aesthetic and spiritual experiences, like the early days when belief and art were still blended together.
In the exhibition, large-scale paintings depict the image of a naked woman – a symbol of primitive beauty and reverence. Nguyen Quan believes that the nude in art not only honors the human body but is also a praise for the gods and the universe. The ceramic and stone sculptures, with their free and powerful forms, continue the journey of exploring feminine beauty through diverse forms of expression.
Dialogue between two creative artistic styles
The combination of "Movement in Stillness" and "Vow" is not only a meeting between two great artists but also an inspiring dialogue between two cultures. If Mukai brings peace, tranquility and the connection between humans and nature, Nguyen Quan evokes thoughts on femininity, faith and beauty in the flow of art history.
Both artists share the belief that art is not only an expression of individuality but also a bridge between people and the world around them. Their works, although distinct in style, are oriented towards common values: respect for nature, admiration for beauty and the desire for peace.
Coming to the double exhibition space, viewers can admire unique works that evoke feelings and thoughts.
Coming to the double exhibition space, viewers can admire unique works that evoke feelings and thoughts. With "Movement in Stillness", viewers will be led into the world of Mukai, where every smallest detail contains the magic of nature. Meanwhile, "Vow" by Nguyen Quan brings intense emotions, urging viewers to reflect on the nature of life, faith and existence.
Through the exhibition, Mukai and Nguyen Quan have created a space where art and spirituality, stillness and movement, traditional and modern values intersect. This is an invitation to all those who love contemporary art, want to find peace and discover profound values in life.
Some other pictures at the two exhibitions:
Exhibition "Nguyen" with 16 oil paintings, 7 sculptures and an architectural simulation of the project "Nguyen Mau Temple"
"Vow" exhibition space on the 1st floor
On the second floor is the exhibition area "Movement in Silence"
Artist Katsumi Mukai's pencil drawings are simple in form, yet powerful in expression.
Their works, although distinct in style, all aim at common values: respect for nature, admiration for beauty and a desire for peace.
