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The exhibition displays 43 works by 8 artists: Le The Anh, Duy Tung, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Dang Hiep, Duy Hoa, Le Thuy, Dang Huu, and Trinh Lien; the result of two years of working together on the "Painting with Nature" project (2012 - 2014).
Although most artists in the exhibition chose landscapes as their main theme, some wanted to broaden the narrative of rural life, including signs of human presence. Nguyen Duy Tung, in particular, focused on village houses, depicting the simple yet charming homes and gardens of farmers. Dang Huu's still-life paintings were "drawn" from the living context of farmers.
Paintings by Trinh Ngoc Lien
With his depictions of rural landscapes, Trinh Ngoc Lien reflects his tireless experimentation with painting techniques—brushstrokes and the use of primary and complementary colors. The latest paintings by this artist from his hometown, encompassing views of pond banks, narrow winding roads and interspersed rice paddies, and quiet village courtyards, moreover, reflect the landscape from a close distance, giving the viewer a more intimate feeling, as if they were part of that countryside.
While Trinh Ngoc Lien's paintings are modest, evocative, and impactful, Duy Hoa's paintings reflect different states and the diversity in his visual perceptions of nature. Viewers may appreciate the hazy colors and indistinct shapes, which evoke a sense of uncertainty in the artist's work.
Le Thuy, another member of the group, takes trees, wild plants, and wildflowers as her central subjects. She focuses on the quiet corners of the garden, recognizing their ordinary beauty and using strong and cheerful colors of light intensity to highlight the diversity and splendor of the vegetation. Le Thuy's aim is to make her works, first and foremost, appear ancient, expressing a desire to depict the continuity of tradition and an unwavering concept of the beauty of nature.
In this exhibition, the city is depicted in the works of Dang Hiep, who demonstrates his affinity for the architectural elements and structures of the old town, its narrow alleys and cramped courtyards. He experiments with various methods in his overall portrayal to present viewers with a most representative image of Vietnamese urban life.
