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Hung's latest collection borrows its title from the paintings displayed in the artist's first solo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City in 2011 at Craig Thomas Gallery.And the flowers rained down. Little flowers,Like the artist's previous collection, which draws inspiration from Osho's teachings on Zen Buddhism, this latest collection, while featuring ample empty space in the paintings and Shala flowers raining down from the sky, has less meditative space and no space dedicated to spirituality.
This series of paintings is smaller in size but more playful, featuring bursts of color, surreal landscapes, and human-like creatures from fairy tales, depicted in a modern Cubist portrait style. These figures, sometimes transforming into half-human, half-animal forms, closely resemble the mythical creatures that appear in our strangest dreams. These black and white figures evoke images of Japanese-style deities, floating on clouds, gently observing the viewer or the dreamers.
Little FlowersIt delves deeper into life on earth, human relationships, and hidden potentials, rather than focusing solely on the spiritual aspect. The canvas is adorned with "tiny flowers, floating dots of color," as the artist calls them, like "seeds falling to the ground, waiting and searching for moist soil to sprout." In this chaotic yet orderly space, seeds continuously fall from the sky, evoking hope for rebirth.
To date, Hung's paintings have always depicted nature, from detailed depictions of mountains and rivers to leaves and flowers in the style of collage. The artist's inspiration remains the Vietnamese ethnic minorities and their diverse cultural traditions.Little Flowers 9In , Hung used details from the textiles and bedding of the Thai ethnic group.Day Off 2The flowers and clouds are decorative details that are very distinctly East Asian.
series of paintingsLittle FlowersCheerful and vibrant, it once again represents Hung's skillful synthesis of Eastern and Western cultures, and his artistic references, in a unique and unified whole.Little FlowersThe artist seeks the seeds of life, of love for life, and of the loving nature of humanity.
Nguyen The Hung was born in 1981 in Viet Bac; he graduated from the Vietnam Fine Arts University in Hanoi in 2009.
Exhibition opening: Wednesday, October 22nd, from 6 PM to 8 PM
Exhibition dates: October 22 – November 14, 2014
Location: Sofitel Saigon Plaza
17 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Website. www.cthomasgallery.com
