Artist Le Trang: "I paint the ao dai from the soul of the character."

The exhibition "Dreams Amidst the Flowery Afternoon" by artist Le Trang at the Fine Arts Museum on a weekend afternoon attracted a large number of young people in traditional ao dai dresses who came to visit and take photos. This is also part of the meaning of preserving the heritage and cultural values ​​of our ancestors, which artist Le Trang wants to express through her works and spread to viewers.

Speakers at the panel discussion.

The panel discussion "Ao Dai and Painting," held within the framework of the "Dream Amidst the Afternoon Flowers" exhibition, was small in scale but attracted a large number of interested participants. The discussion featured the owner of the paintings in the exhibition – artist Le Trang, along with the President of the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, artist Chu Nhat Anh, and MC and journalist Yen Khuong.

The talk show, organized by the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club in collaboration with artist Le Trang, is part of a series of activities by the Vietnam Ao Dai Cultural Heritage Club system nationwide, aiming to honor, preserve, and spread the cultural value of the Ao Dai, while also contributing to promoting its recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Sharing her thoughts at the seminar, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam stated that the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) is not only a traditional garment but also a "brand identity" of Vietnam on the international stage – where a glimpse of the ao dai is enough for people to recognize Vietnamese identity. And in this context, painting is one of the new, profound, and enduring forms of expression to tell the story of this heritage. While fashion shows introduce the ao dai to the world through direct imagery, painting has the ability to preserve, preserve, and spread its lasting spiritual values. It is precisely in this respect that Le Trang's ao dai paintings create a special impression: gentle, delicate, yet highly evocative, and particularly appealing to young people.

Sharing his thoughts on the value of the ao dai heritage, artist Chu Nhat Quang believes that the ao dai is a rare symbol that harmoniously combines tradition with adaptability to modern life. According to him, to preserve and promote the value of the ao dai, the core principle is to distill the cultural essence from tradition, bringing forth the most beautiful aspects we have preserved, while simultaneously infusing them with the youthful energy and creativity of today's generation. This creates a strong connection between the past and the present, ensuring that the enduring beauty of the ao dai continues to evolve through generations.

Young people in traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses pose for photos at the exhibition.

Artist Le Trang said that at international exhibitions, curators and collectors recognized that her paintings not only depicted women in traditional ao dai dresses, but also told a story about Vietnamese culture, the spirit, and the inner strength of the Vietnamese people.

Ao Dai designer Lan Huong recounts that when traveling abroad, many people commented that the Vietnamese ao dai, while extremely modest, still reveals the sensual beauty of women. In Le Trang's paintings, the women in ao dai possess a sense of fulfillment, with ease, grace, and gentleness, perfectly reflecting the colors and style that Le Trang expresses in her artwork. Designer Lan Huong also hopes that young designers, when creating ao dai, will respect the traditional identity of the garment.

Speaking about the creative interpretations of the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) in her paintings, artist Le Trang said that for her, painting the ao dai is not about painting the garment, but about painting the person wearing it, making the ao dai reflect the character's inner feelings, moods, and demeanor.

To convey the harmony between the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and the character, Le Trang chose to depict the character's mood, inner feelings, and demeanor. "That's not a simple task, and I always strive to explore and research to express this meaning well," the female artist stated.

Regarding color, Le Trang said she chose two shades, purple and turquoise, as one way to create her own unique style, using multiple layers of color applied on top of each other.

An art performance at the exhibition.

The female artist shared that oil paint is an endless world for her to return to, tell her stories, or continue her journey. Some works take up to two years to showcase to friends or viewers, while others only take a few weeks. Each work has many layers of color, and each layer tells a story. The layers beneath represent things the world cannot see, memories or the hidden strength of women. The layers above represent light, color, and the gentleness of the painting. Viewers don't experience the painting once, but multiple times through each layer.

In Le Trang's paintings, the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) is not simply a work of art depicting the ao dai, but a way of telling stories to spread the value of the ao dai's heritage. The ao dai in her paintings reaches the viewer slowly, but enduringly and profoundly, like the beauty of the ao dai's heritage itself.

HA CHI

Source: https://nhandan.vn/hoa-si-le-trang-toi-ve-ta-ao-dai-tu-tam-hon-nhan-vat-post937667.html