"Touching Memories" - A Journey Back to Childhood Emotions

The exhibition "Touching Memories," which opened on the afternoon of September 11th in Hanoi, brings together five young artists: Lam Trang, Tran Nguyen, Dac Tuong, Bui Huan, and Hoang Quoc Tuan. These young men, despite having different perspectives, emotions, and styles of expression, share a common passion and a serious, dedicated work ethic in art.

The five artists (from left to right): Bui Huan, Dac Tuong, Hoang Quoc Tuan, Lam Trang, and Tran Nguyen at the exhibition opening: Bui Huan, Dac Tuong, Hoang Quoc Tuan, Lam Trang, and Tran Nguyen at the exhibition opening.

The first piece in the "Touching Memories" exhibition is Lam Trang – an artist with experience in a wide range of subjects such as landscapes, still life, scenes of daily life, and people. Lam Trang's works depict images of suburban villages, tranquil rural scenes, or simply a small garden corner behind a house.

Similar to Lam Trang, artist Tran Nguyen chooses to evoke heartfelt emotions through images of the countryside. Images of banyan trees by the riverbank, moss-covered tiled-roof houses nestled behind bamboo groves, and familiar figures of grandmothers and mothers are all encapsulated by Tran Nguyen in his works.

Artwork by artist Tran Nguyen

Unlike the ancient, solemn style with warm colors in the paintings of Tran Nguyen or Lam Trang, artist Dac Tuong brings freshness and vibrancy to the landscapes of the Northwest mountains and forests. In Dac Tuong's works, we can feel the dry sunshine of the Northwest mountains and forests, the vastness of the flower valleys, and the terraced rice fields in full bloom.

Artwork by artist Dac Tuong

A special piece in "Touching Memories" is Bui Huan with his elaborate ceramic works. He was born and raised in a traditional craft village along the Cau River - Phu Lang pottery village. Bui Huan's works are not simply vases or statues, but also embody the spirit and story of an entire craft village.

Ceramic works by Bui Huan

A distinctive highlight in "Touching Memories" is the silk paintings by artist Hoang Quoc Tuan. Hoang Quoc Tuan's emotions and reflections focus heavily on the fate of women, so his works in this exhibition are inspired by traditional literature and art.

Sharing his thoughts and aspirations for the "Touching Memories" exhibition, artist Tran Nguyen expressed: "Typhoon No. 3 left behind much damage and sorrow. Our initial idea was to showcase to art enthusiasts the old memories and beautiful nostalgia through the language of painting. The 'Touching Memories' exhibition serves as a point of contact, allowing art lovers to reminisce and revisit what belongs to the past, to memories, the beautiful things that have become cherished memories for generations."

During the exhibition, the five artists researched sources of information about the countryside, visited those regions, and learned about what the landscape looked like in the past, in order to recreate it in the most emotional way possible, conveying the spirit of the land and the story in their artworks.

All five artists were born and raised in rural villages, so they found common ground and a range of emotions that could harmonize their five distinct personalities. These young artists all harbor feelings of nostalgia and distant memories of their hometowns, of hardships, joys, sorrows, and the beautiful memories of their childhood. Through the exhibition "Touching Memories," the group of artists wants to show viewers their own beautiful memories, as well as those of the audience, reflected in their paintings.

Attending the "Touching Memories" exhibition, journalist Ngo Ba Luc shared: "When I came to the exhibition, I felt like I was on a train journey back to my childhood memories. The works of the artists evoked many emotions about the old countryside. I was born and raised in the countryside, then achieved success in the city, so when I saw the paintings here, childhood memories flooded back to me."

“Touching Memories” is a blend of the soul of Vietnamese rural life, tranquil countryside scenes, the beauty of the Northwest mountains and forests, the gentle charm of silk paintings, and the uniqueness of ceramics. All these elements combine to create a profound artistic experience for the audience, like a journey back to childhood. Every line in the painting, every motif on the ceramics, every image of familiar scenery evokes memories of the simple, peaceful life of the homeland. “Touching Memories” is not only an opportunity for the audience to admire unique works of art but also a chance to discover cultural values.

At the opening of the exhibition, the five artists announced that they would donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their artworks in the "Touching Memories" exhibition to support people in flood-affected areas damaged by Typhoon No. 3.

The exhibition "Touching Memories" will take place from September 11th to September 17th, 2024 at the Exhibition House, 29 Hang Bai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Source: https://vov.vn/van-hoa/5-hoa-si-mo-trien-lam-tai-ha-noi-trich-tien-ban-tranh-ung-ho-dong-bao-vung-lu-post1120743.vov