Listening to Jazz through... paintings by artist Pham Van Bac

Jazz is a genre of music based on improvisational flexibility yet with a very rhythmic overall melody. Improvisation is how jazz artists express themselves and create their music. This is also true for freelance artist Pham Van Bac. Begun in mid-August 2021 and still ongoing, this series of paintings is the artist's spontaneous expression on his journey of exploring music and himself.

Jazz is very "close" to painting. Jazz musicians are no different from abstract painters wielding their brushes and splashing colors. They "splash colors," transforming sounds that might otherwise seem noisy, chaotic, energetic, and sometimes even contradictory, into a harmonious and beautiful whole.

“In Jazz, there’s both the intoxicating scent of alcohol and the scent of love. The emotions Jazz evokes in me are full of energy. Jazz belongs to the earth; Jazz is a worldly pleasure. Unlike classical music, which calms emotions, Jazz has its own dreamy and ethereal quality,” shared artist Pham Van Bac.

Artist Pham Van Bac has used various painting techniques for this theme; some paintings follow a realistic style, some have an impressionistic feel with overlapping color strokes, and others evoke abstract and cubist forms.

Depicting Jazz through painting is both fascinating and challenging. The encounter between Jazz and painting is a meeting of the master of color, recreating the sounds. The artist must skillfully create "chords" with brushstrokes and then convey them so that the viewer can "hear" them visually in the most natural way on "flat" canvases. Jazz is vibrant, festive, and colorful. Throughout the series, artist Pham Van Bac has incorporated Jazz tones into diverse shades, sometimes subdued, sometimes vibrant, sometimes profound. Stepping into each of the artist's paintings, we enter a dance of melodies through streaks of color that are sometimes blended, sometimes distinct.

Join Travellive for a short conversation with the artist.

First, could the artist introduce their artistic career to Travellive readers?

I love painting, but before becoming an artist, I worked a different job to make a living. I also taught myself to paint; I didn't attend any formal art school.

My love for painting and music developed during my youth living in the North, but I truly started painting when I moved to Hue at the age of 36. Although I haven't painted much about Hue, the city's "spirit" still influences my works to some extent – ​​a touch of dampness, dreaminess, and lyricism.

To be able to create such an impressive series of paintings about Jazz, how does the artist perceive his relationship, or connection, with this genre of music?

I was introduced to Jazz through records later than many young people today. Even so, I've loved Jazz for about 15 years now. The beauty of the artists and their music has truly captivated me. Jazz also gives me a sense of relaxation and creativity. I've seen several live Jazz Festivals featuring foreign artists, but perhaps the most memorable experience was hearing Jazz performed by artist Tran Manh Tuan.

Drawing jazz is my way of expressing my love as an artist for music in general, and for my favorite genre in particular. I want to draw music and try to capture the sounds of jazz, the colors of jazz, and the beauty of jazz performers. The images in my paintings are inspired by performances I've seen, with the addition of my own imaginative colors. I also listen to jazz while drawing to get more inspiration.

My first painting, inspired by jazz music, was a long time ago, in 2019; it was an abstract painting. It wasn't until 2021 that I seriously decided to pursue this subject, and I'm still continuing to do so.

What difficulties did the artist encounter while creating this series of paintings?

For four months, I meticulously focused solely on the subject matter, composition, lines, and colors of the painting, striving to capture the spirit and movement evoked by jazz music. I used color to emphasize the sound. Expressing this was a challenge, but also a rewarding experience for an artist who loves jazz. That was my goal; however, my abilities are still limited, and how far I've progressed depends on the judgment of art lovers.

In the creative process, do artists ever experience a "brainstorming block"? If so, what do they do about it?

When working with a subject or style for an extended period, the emotions and creativity will inevitably diminish. At this point, the artist might switch to a different subject for a while to regain balance before returning to their original subject. Or I might pause and reflect, finding different ways to express my subject and supplementing my knowledge with relevant information.

If you consider jazz painting as a dish and yourself as the chef, what "flavors" would the artist want it to have?

My jazz is spicy and flavorful, with a touch of alcohol and romance. I think this "dish" is for those who are mature enough. If possible, I would like to serve it in a lively and free atmosphere.

Given the current complicated situation with the pandemic, is the artist's creative work being affected?

The pandemic affected everyone, including artists. It had a significant impact on the psychology of painters, as selling my paintings became much more difficult. But artists are typically independent, working alone, so I quickly adapted and continued my work. Because, after all, artists still paint…

Quynh Phuong (Photo: Provided by the interviewee)