Heritage - the foundation of contemporary art

Heritage is the root of contemporary creativity

Painter Dang Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Painting Arts Council, Vietnam Fine Arts Association, affirmed that there can be no contemporary Vietnamese art without a traditional foundation. According to him, heritage is the starting point and also an endless source of materials, creating a unique identity for each work of art.

Visitors at the exhibition of the best works of the second annual UOB Painting of the Year competition held in Ho Chi Minh City

The techniques, drawings, and aesthetic senses left by previous generations are not “relics”, but “launching pads” for modern creative thinking. A work, no matter how modern its form, needs to be anchored in its identity. For him, empathy with the past, from Indochinese painters to folk artisans, is the ethical and professional foundation for today’s artists. Creativity cannot be an act separate from history, but must continue with awareness and gratitude. “Art only truly touches the heart when it is imbued with the soul of culture”, artist Dang Xuan Hoa emphasized.

However, according to artist Dang Xuan Hoa, exploiting tradition if it only stops at copying and imitating the form will make art become rigid and lose its vitality. Heritage is not an unchanging "monument" but a living entity that needs to be understood, felt and renewed with a unique perspective. Only then can artists truly breathe life into their works, turning traditional values ​​into the inner strength of contemporary art. He expressed his belief that the flow of modern art can completely renew heritage if led by creativity and correct perception.

Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Duong Thu Hang, Director of Hanoi Studio Gallery, said that the market's interest in Indochina paintings in recent years is a positive signal, showing that traditional values ​​not only create strong attraction, but also contribute to positioning the Indochina fine arts brand. However, many artists are also worried that if they only follow short-term tastes, artists will easily fall into a rut, losing depth of thinking and independence in creativity.

There can be no superficiality in creativity.

At the discussion, artist Ngo Van Sac affirmed that heritage is not only a treasure to be exploited, but also a “living material”, closely linked to the memories, culture and emotions of each artist. From customs, handicraft techniques to folk aesthetics, all are sources of inspiration to nurture creativity. He also emphasized that heritage is not an immovable treasure but needs to be inherited and created through life experiences and personal emotions.

For him, heritage is present in every aspect of life such as architecture, crafts, cuisine , and human relationships with nature. However, he also believes that the connection with tradition is only valuable when it comes from genuine emotions. Otherwise, heritage can easily become an “artistic cover”, covering up the superficiality of creative thinking. Artists need to distinguish between form and spirit, between “relying on heritage” and “clinging to stereotypes”.

Painter Ngo Van Sac also emphasized the difference in art that comes from the serious work and individual personality of each artist. Whether using traditional materials such as lacquer, silk or folk paintings, the value of the work does not lie in the material but in the way the artist puts his soul into it. At that time, heritage is not just a story of the past but becomes a living part of the present, rich in evocativeness and expressiveness. He also shared about the challenges in finding a balance between tradition and modernity, considering it a journey of constant experimentation and adjustment. “No one can teach creativity, but each artist can learn from their own true emotions to create art with depth,” he affirmed.

At the discussion, Ms. Duong Thu Hang recalled the words of the famous painter Nguyen Tu Nghiem: “Going to the end of tradition will meet the contemporary”. This is an important message about the intersection between the past and the present, and at the same time is the orientation for Vietnamese art in the integration process. Today's artists, when they know how to appreciate heritage, courageously innovate and create from their own identity, will make Vietnamese art develop strongly, not through imitation, but with an independent and confident voice.

MAI AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/di-san-nen-tang-cua-nghe-thuat-duong-dai-post794214.html