Hi.69 by artist Duc Giang and Hoang Vo

One North, one South, one deep and quiet, one wild and free, two artists of the same age, Duc Giang and Hoang Vo, together create an artistic space that is both different and harmonious with the double exhibition Hi.69 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Enjoy paintings by artist Hoang Vo at exhibition Hi.69 - Photo: H.VY

Taking place from now until November 10 at Maii Art Space (HCMC), the Hi.69 exhibition is an interesting reunion of two artists Hoang Vo and Duc Giang.

The name Hi.69 comes from the year of birth of both, and is also the greeting (Hi) of two painting personalities: one North, one South, one dark tone, one bright tone, one deep, one high... two different emotional streams that blend together to create a dialogue full of energy and inspiration.

Two teachers step out of the mold

Both born in 1969 and both teaching fine arts (Hoang Vo is a guest lecturer at the University of Architecture in Ho Chi Minh City, and Duc Giang is a graphic design lecturer at Van Lang University), but in Hi.69 , they do not have the appearance of teachers but are two artists who are indulging in their pure creative nature.

"Painting is like a second self to me: freer, more open. It allows me to see things I cannot say," artist Duc Giang shared.

He said that since his university days, he has always struggled with the question "what to draw, what is worth living with and always thinking about?" In the end, he chose love, because it is something that encompasses everything, both pure and fierce, both conflict and dialogue...

Duc Giang's paintings therefore do not describe or tell stories, but are like "emotional areas" preserved by thick and thin layers of paint, interwoven with bright and dim areas. Cold colors dominate, but always hidden somewhere are traces of warm pink or orange, in his words "like the breath left after an emotion".

As art researcher Quach Cuong commented, the beauty in Duc Giang's paintings does not lie in the form, but in the dissolution of the form. A kind of beauty of emotion freed from the constraints of form.

Painter Duc Giang with his work at the Hi.69 exhibition - Photo: H.VY

For artist Hoang Vo, who has been involved with drawing for many years, this exhibition is a way for him to "renew himself".

Coming from Long An , growing up amidst the sun and wind of the river region, he chose an energetic way of expression. Strong, liberal brush strokes, bright and decisive color blocks carry the free breath of the Southern land and sky.

If in previous exhibitions such as Wild Dance or Spring , Hoang Vo still intertwined between realism and abstraction, then with Hi.69 , he chose complete abstraction. He hopes to surprise viewers with the clarity of colors and the novelty of content.

More importantly, for him, each exhibition is an opportunity to renew, to continue the desire to find the strange, even the opposite. And each exhibition creates great motivation for artists.

Artist Hoang Vo with a new series of abstract paintings at Hi.69 - Photo: H.VY

Two streams of alluvium, one common voice

Curator and artist Phan Trong Van compares Hi.69 to "the meeting of two alluvial streams, where there is no dissolution but a dialogue in difference. Hoang Vo's paintings are rhythm, while Duc Giang's paintings are silence. When placed next to each other, they do not cancel each other out but rather clarify each other."

Entering the gallery, the viewer seems to stand between two parallel streams of alluvial soil from the North and the South. On one side is the bright, free and intense colors of artist Hoang Vo, on the other side is the deep, quiet, and calm colors like the breath of memories of artist Duc Giang.

Two opposite personalities, one introverted, one extroverted, but they complement each other and naturally get along. As painter Hoang Vo jokingly said: "For the first time in Saigon, there is a couple exhibition of two men. We didn't know each other through painting, but we bonded because of painting."

Two painting personalities placed side by side create an impressive visual experience for the viewer - Photo: H.VY

With this series of paintings, Hoang Vo wants to say "we are not alone". The explosion of technology is making people more distant from each other. Through painting, he wants to evoke emotions and connections: let's maintain the ties and core human values ​​of humanity.

On the other hand, Duc Giang sees painting as a silent conversation about love. He hopes that after leaving the gallery, viewers will "go home, hold their partner's hand and say: let's love each other."

Therefore, Hi.69 is not only a place where viewers can feel the differences in geography, culture, and painting style, but also see the common ground in belief in beauty and the desire to connect.

There, painting becomes a common language, gentle yet intense, reminding us: "We are not alone, and we are not alone together."

The exhibition attracted many audiences, especially students.

Students enjoy and talk about paintings by artist Duc Giang.

The exhibition runs until November 10 at Maii Art Space (HCMC)

Quietly admiring the free-spirited colors of painter Hoang Vo

Painting by artist Hoang Vo

A corner of the painting by artist Duc Giang

We are not alone 3

HUYNH VY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hi-69-cua-hoa-si-duc-giang-va-hoang-vo-20251103014432971.htm