“Pilgrimage” for art
Born and raised in a family with parents who were both famous painters, but throughout her childhood and adulthood, Dao Anh Tho never thought of pursuing a career in painting. Finance was the path of development she chose and pursued very early. At the age of 32, Dao Anh Tho suddenly turned, giving up the successes she had built up for more than a decade at international financial companies, entering a completely new journey: Painting and quickly launching her first solo exhibition under the stage name CAT. Her exhibition "Metareverse - Rebirth" immediately impressed the art-loving public when it opened up a strange world with large-scale lacquer works expressed in dreamy shapes and splendid colors.
From a financial employee to painting at the age of 32
Referring to this special turning point, Dao Anh Tho shared: “When I first decided to draw and seriously wanted to become an artist at the age of 32, I was also very shocked. After a while, I realized that becoming an artist is not natural, maybe as people say, if there is enough fate, the flower will bloom. I have experienced the sweet and bitter, many events, ups and downs of life and this is the time when I receive a great source of energy."
CAT's inspiration for creation often comes from: people's daily lives or when enjoying the works of famous world artists. Traveling to find creative materials has become an indispensable part of CAT's life.
And on one such trip, CAT coincidentally met and fell in love with her current partner - a foreign guy who was on a journey to explore Vietnam. Since then, they have traveled together through 13 countries, from Asia, through Europe to America, together leaving their footprints on many new lands, learning about unfamiliar cultures, collecting unforgettable experiences such as Udo Island in Jeju, the giant wheel and National Park in Singapore, lost and confused in Malacca (Malaysia), "Sekkusu Geimu Drift" in the electronic streets of Tokyo, walking with philosophers in Athens and especially famous museums and galleries...
The female artist quickly sketches her ideas and thoughts on a small piece of paper to hold in her hand and carry with her at all times.
Artist CAT has traveled through 13 countries, from Asia, through Europe to America, leaving his footprints on many new lands, learning about unfamiliar cultures, and collecting unforgettable experiences.
“When I first started my journey abroad, starting with Korea, I didn’t clearly envision these trips as trips of experience and creation. I simply quickly sketched my ideas and thoughts on a small piece of paper that I could hold and carry with me at all times. Later, I realized that the sketches I created while in another country seemed to absorb the energy, shape, and color of that country. There was something changing in each painting that I could clearly feel. Since then, whenever I went abroad, I always brought my sketchbook with me. I have the ability to sketch very quickly and sketch anywhere. Whether I was sitting on the subway, in a cafe, a restaurant, at a train station, or at a pier, I could draw. Usually, ideas come naturally, and each time an idea comes, it only takes me 2 to 3 hours for a work to temporarily take shape. That’s why, after each trip, I have a whole series of sketches to bring back.” complete into finished works".
As CAT's travel experiences increased, the number of her sketches also increased rapidly. Within 2 years, she had 200 sketches, divided into series by theme: "Series 3 - Summer of Love" recorded her experiences in Korea; "Series 4 - Traveler" with sketches done in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan; "Series 5 - India", "Series 7 - America Now" done in the US; "Series 8 - Culture Pilgrimage" drawn in France, Italy, Greece, Morocco, Vatican and "Series 11" sketched in China. These sketches were the foundation for her to complete into large-scale lacquer works when she returned to Vietnam.
Not only do CAT's "huge" art projects require a lot of time and effort, they are also very "money-consuming".
The daring "sleepwalker"
Dao Anh Tho admits that she is a sleepwalker when holding a pen because she always cherishes the idea of creating large-scale lacquer works to be able to freely create and fly with the game of art and color. However, the female artist must admit that the game is not easy, because from the idea, from the sketch to reality, it is a difficult journey.
CAT confided: “It was difficult right from the start, because as far as I know, in Vietnam, almost no one has made such large-scale lacquer paintings. For example, when making the first painting in the series “America Now” which is 3.6 m high and 4.8 m long, it was very difficult to get the size. I persuaded, ordered and waited 3 months to get the size I wanted. When I got it, standing in front of such a large-scale painting, I was confused and didn’t know where to start.”
Just talking about paint colors, Dao Anh Tho is not afraid to travel to faraway lands to find the most suitable color.
Not only do CAT's "huge" art projects require a lot of time and effort, they are also very "expensive". She wants to use the best materials and supplies to shape and nurture her brainchildren. Just talking about paint colors, she does not hesitate to travel to remote lands to find the most satisfactory color: "I think to have a beautiful work, the first thing is to invest in standard raw materials. I only use colors from world-famous brands, originating from natural stone, which have been tested for decades, and there are even brands that have been selling colors for over a hundred years. Only then can I be temporarily assured that my work will not fade quickly because of using poor quality or industrial colors."
Personal art space and second exhibition
During her travels, artist CAT - Dao Anh Tho was strongly impressed with the art spaces in the US and Europe - France - where classic works of famous painters are displayed. She clearly felt that these spaces honoring art are the places that lay the foundation and create conditions for art to flourish. Since then, she has always cherished the desire to create her own art exhibition space in Vietnam.
And Metareverse Art Gallery launched on May 22, 2024 is the “sweet fruit” she wants to share with the public after a long time of “hiding”. At the same time, here, CAT also opened the second solo exhibition displaying 22 ballpoint pen sketches of the series “America Now” created in 2023 and the first large-scale painting of this series, measuring 3.6 m x 4.8 m, weighing nearly 250 kg.
"I only use colors from world-famous brands, made from natural stone, tested over decades. There are even brands that sell colors that have existed for over a hundred years," the female artist said.
Artist Dao Anh Tho plans to complete and introduce to the public all 22 paintings in the series “America Now” in the next 4 years.
“The place that gives me the strongest creative inspiration is probably the beloved United States where I lived and studied. Having studied in the US from high school to university, I love the country and its people very much. Returning after 11 years away, 'America Now' is a testament to the enormous energy that this country has had on me during more than a month of traveling and creating in five major cities in the US. To answer the question why, perhaps for me, America will always be a big dream, a country of strong giants who dare to do everything to make their dreams come true,” CAT artist Dao Anh Tho confided.
She plans to complete and unveil all 22 paintings in the “America Now” series over the next four years.
The exhibition “America Now” will be open to visitors until June 21, 2024 at Metareverse Art Gallery - D1-24 Dao Hinh Street, Phuc Dong, Long Bien, Hanoi.
