Thorough understanding
"Since I was young, I often thought about material and spiritual life. When I grew up, I thought about religion and spirituality. I realized that my greatest inner need was thorough understanding (Wisdom - Intelligence). And then I fell in love with Buddhism, standing before the vast ocean of enlightenment. This series of paintings is drawn from the mindset of a novice who just started learning about Buddhism but was full of excitement and faith; a person who loves himself and nurtures compassion for all things...", artist Tran Nhat Thang confided.
Portrait of artist Tran Nhat Thang.
In Buddhism, the concept of Wisdom is understood as: what makes up a Human, is the present of a Human. Wisdom is something inside a human, accumulated, absorbed and enlightened through many lifetimes. Wisdom is a state of consciousness.
To put it simply, the series of paintings in the exhibition "In Nothingness, Nothingness" is not only the result of the predestined relationship of practicing and learning about Buddhism, but also the journey to find the truth in countless lifetimes of artist Tran Nhat Thang. As curator Le Thiet Cuong said: "Sudden enlightenment is a blink of an eye, but the journey to find that fateful second is countless lifetimes..."
The appearance of real details in the exhibition "In Nothingness Nothingness".
At "The Void" 2022, Tran Nhat Thang brings a series of abstract paintings, like many previous exhibitions. The vast abstract space that he has built over decades of painting practice is the foundation for placing real details in the works in the exhibition "In Nothingness, Nothingness is Form", in Nothingness there is nothingness - existence, there is something - nothingness.
SILENCE IN MOTION
In this exhibition, Tran Nhat Thang brings many images that "activate" the tranquility of many viewers such as: the image of Quan The Am calmly listening to human suffering, the image of Buddha meditating under the Bodhi tree, the image of monks meditating in a space filled with storms... Even though the surroundings are constantly agitated and changing, the tranquility still covers the entire scene, a serenity before all the constant birth and death in the world.
Serenity and serenity in the series of paintings.
Viewers seem to be immersed in the peaceful silence in Tran Nhat Thang's paintings. The vastness of a river, the majesty of a mountain, the boundless immensity of an indefinite space... bring a sense of serenity that is difficult to describe in words to those who come to admire the paintings.
Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree.
Perhaps the artist was truly at peace when moving each stroke, each brushstroke, fully concentrating on depicting the spatial dimensions originating from his own consciousness. Transcending all notions of stillness and beauty, when looking deeply into the series of paintings, one can see the stillness and peace in one’s heart.
REFLECTION IN QUIETNESS
"In Nothingness" marks a turning point in the artist's art and a special turning point in his mind. The realistic details placed in the work by the artist may come from his experiences and observations during his spiritual journey. It could also be an image originating from Tran Nhat Thang's consciousness in countless lifetimes.
The monk calmly rowed the boat despite the storm ahead.
The monks appear in many different dimensions, at first glance seeming to be lost in the vastness of life. Amidst the endless ups and downs, the monks still walk on the upward path even though they cannot see the shore. It is hard and arduous because they always have to grope in the midst of a stormy life to find the truth.
Sometimes they appear in a state of confusion and bewilderment in the middle of a vague and uncertain space. Sometimes the pilgrims shine brightly in a forest of the artist's subconscious. That is where life thrives, the air is fresh and cool. The movement of each gentle breeze gently swaying the branches makes the rustling sound of leaves in that forest make the pilgrim's steps become more leisurely, self-possessed and calm.
The journey to the light of truth is fraught with difficulties.
Although the journey to find the truth is still arduous and cannot be fully expressed in words, through the artistic language, the audience can feel the artist's spirit of "self-reflection" - self-enlightenment and self-examination. The depth of silence through contemplation and self-reflection has been directly depicted in his series of paintings in this exhibition.
Tran Nhat Thang does not rely on colors or techniques in painting, but only uses them as a language, a channel of communication to express his feelings and perceptions.
In fact, the difficulty of a practitioner is always to find the light within oneself, to let that become the lamp that guides oneself to goodness, to find the truth of life. To walk amidst noise and chaos but not to be shaken or afraid, but still calmly walk in silence. To walk leisurely in life.
Even though there is chaos and noise outside, the monk still walks leisurely in silence.
