Five artists of the 7X generation, whose maturity has been well shaped, yet innocence can still be recognized, who have reached the age in fine arts when one can either do everything or nothing.
Bui Tien Tuan (b.1971) does not hide his mastery in silk, his elegant and refining marks and strokes, his smart tendency in using space, either too much or too empty, to increase the power of attractiveness. The Japanese wood carving masters are worldly known for this skill. Even though what we see in front of us is what we are inarguably attracted by, they can also/possibly be an illusion, just like a bait image… Hidden from the inviting openness is nothing but irony. The artist secretly and gracefully exposes the aristocratic behaviors.
Luong Luu Bien (b.1975) Greatly simple with engraving cubes of human beings on the surface, naked and strong, sad and happy, lonely and together. There is a conscious contrast of heavy yet harmless muscular human beings and flat yet sharp flowing space to provoke interests and leave thoughts for a long time.
La Nhu Lan (b.1975) presents more options on the same canvas. A look in close-up shows a blackboard thickly covered of white chalk lines, a corner of an old wall, a rotten painted piece of wood, a heavy volume of smoke, a quickly moving dewy cloud… with layers of something no longer in the original form due to time and changes… to create complex and integrated layers on top of one another. Apparently what we look at and what we see is not necessarily one thing. The abstract painting invokes a dialogue for space, with numerous answers as one starts exploring.
Mac Hoang Thuong (b.1976) sharp and calm with oppositions to create unique composition. The painting is strong yet vulnerable; the stone has its life infinitely corroded by nature and instantly covered by molds. There are thousands of lines, which, at first look, seem to be the very tiny cells of one’s lung or pelvis observed under the microscope. Together they form a landscape sculpture of raw fabrics. Portraits are faces of people who are still alive and yet it seems as if they have been engraved onto the stone surface since the ancient time, rough yet determined. These faces could be made of blood vascular/dry blood trail that a while ago was fresh and injured.
Phuong Quoc Tri (b.1976) rounded and authentic with surprising close up angles. There is an extreme minimum of color, words, techniques or philosophy. Thanks to that, the artistic message and probably the artist’s aesthetic point of view are directly conveyed to the viewers. Imagination and association only come into senses as viewers focus on the painting itself and eliminate all the details that often distract them from the authentic core. The uncontrollable life of the women’s bodies or the seemingly normal faces, totally ignorant to other people’s eyes, were projected in order to reveal the nature of fate. What is finally inevitable is the recognition of truth and beauty in life.
It seems that we have not seen an every 30-year change trend in the Vietnamese fine art during the last century. The early 1930s were abundant of Indochina influence, 1960-70s with Realism and Nationalism, 1980-90s with Reform, and currently of what we call Contemporary arts. Most artists of the 7x and 8x generation belong to this trend, of whom the five above artists of this to be or… exhibition are considered outstanding.
Contemporary Art Gallery Cactus wishes to become a playground for local and international young, passionate and talented artists to connect, exchange and create beautiful art works.
Congratulations and wholeheartedly wish that CACTUS gallery would be full of life and become a highlight venue for the art life in Vietnam.
Written by Art Critics Nguyen Quan
