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The 19 paintings on display at the exhibition, also titled "The Head," revolve around this concept. Not portraits, but "the head"—what artist Ngoc Phuong aims to depict is the thought, the mindset, the inner self, rather than the outward appearance. Each head is a book of life, revealing all the sublime, the ordinary, the happy, the painful...
"After more than 10 years of creating the series of paintings of heads – a re-enactment of my obsession with human nature," artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong affirmed.
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong's exhibition "The Head" emphasizes the search for truth beyond the tangible. In this series of paintings, the male artist practices art on wood/fabric.
The use of dense, dark color palettes, like relief sculpture, in the creative process makes the lines powerful. Linear or non-linear outlines are blurred, and human figures are indistinct against a gray background. Only the heads remain, seemingly floating unexpectedly and tensely. By interpreting a new and unprecedented material, his creation offers viewers much to ponder.
Artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong
Artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong stated: "The series of paintings of heads is a recreation of the haunting thoughts in my mind about human nature."
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong (born 1975, Hanoi) graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts and later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. Nguyen Ngoc Phuong initially focused on semi-abstract works, then gradually shifted to abstract art. He has held solo exhibitions at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum with the themes “The 49th Day” - Parts 1 and 2 (2018), and “Remembrance” (2021). Many of his works have been selected for display at galleries and museums in Southeast Asia, such as Yogia Gallery (Yogyakarta, Indonesia), Penang State Art Gallery (Penang, Malaysia), etc.
In this series of paintings, the male artist practices creating art on canvas/wood.
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The number 12
The brushstrokes in the male artist's paintings are vigorous and groundbreaking, with strong color contrasts, expressing the intense outburst of repressed inner feelings. In his work, he often breaks down barriers of style, materials, or schools to achieve absolute freedom in art. Because he is no longer bound by theory or artistic expression, he has succeeded in creating a unique and distinctive world of his own.
Artist Ly Truc Son commented on Nguyen Ngoc Phuong's paintings: "Unlike the structure viewers usually see in Nguyen Ngoc Phuong's paintings, these works are where the artist plunges into the explosions and chaos of visual elements, then tries to establish a dynamic order for them. Phuong's 'heads' refer to a different area, where tranquility has gathered and reshaped all the disparate elements into a face. However, the greatest thing I see in his paintings is the energy of the hidden is so intense that it distorts the form of what is concealing it."
Artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong shared her thoughts with Ms. Tuyet Nguyen, founder of Tongla Art, about the series of paintings in the exhibition.
Travellive had a short conversation with artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong:
Reporter (R): The series of paintings titled "The Head" reflects your obsession with human nature. So, what exactly is this human nature you're referring to?
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong:The humanity I'm referring to here is my suggestion and aspiration for people living in contemporary society. They should return to their instincts, to the most fundamental human values from the beginning.
PV: Why did you choose the head as a symbol to represent human nature, and not a portrait or something else?
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong:Portrait paintings, at best, only capture the outward appearance, or at most explore personality traits like pensive or romantic, but they cannot fully express the human mind. They may even fail to fully explore the thoughts of an individual, a nation, a people, or a person's character.
Many people say that the word "head" has been commonly used for many years. But "head" has never been officially used for a bold, clear, or explicit statement to make people understand that the head has a brain, a worldview, and so on.
The sound of the head is also very real and direct, whether mentioned to adults or children. Its volume is strong, simple, powerful, and easily conveyed to audiences of all ages. And I am very interested in this name, even though it is crude, rustic, unappealing, simple, but direct and straight to the point.
PV: Looking at your paintings, the dominant colors are often dark. Is this perhaps a metaphor for the human condition that you are using in each of your works?
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong:That's only partially true. Only when I perceive the weight of all things and phenomena within that color does it align with my mood and philosophical thinking.
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PV: So where does the inspiration for your creativity come from?
Nguyen Ngoc Phuong:Ideas don't usually appear concretely and clearly right away; they develop gradually. That is, I might be drawing, but I don't know what I'm going to draw. I can't draw what I see, only what I'm intending to draw. Thinking about that problem might take decades, or even just a term for it. It can be understood that: ideas come through the process; one must be rational, understand form, and possess the expertise to grasp and bring imagination to life during the creative process. In that creative process, the artwork becomes a space or a harmonious environment where the artist can express themselves most freely.
Interviewer: Thank you very much!
The exhibition "The Head" by artist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong is open from July 25 to 31, 2023 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
The "Head" exhibition space
