Painting touches the inner self.

Unlike the dynamism and constantly changing trends of many other art forms, painting captivates the public with the stillness of its depth, both in the artwork itself and the artist. It is gradually shaping an art market focused on spiritual values ​​and profound healing. It is a form of painting that originates from within, touching upon a peaceful reality for the viewer.

The reality of inner peace

The works displayed in the exhibition "Form and Emptiness" (currently taking place at Chillala Art Space) by artist Tran Trung Linh captivate viewers with the introduction "Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form," a mantra from the Heart Sutra, manifested through layers of color and brushstrokes by the artist. In the beginning of the exhibition, the paintings are full of color, powerful imagery, and movement, but as the exhibition progresses, the colors fade, the images simplify, and finally, the black and white areas become tranquil, reflecting a mind that lets go and no longer clings to anything.

Visitors viewing the exhibition "Color and Emptiness" (currently taking place at Chillala Art Space) by artist Tran Trung Linh.

This is also a trend in painting, especially after the impact of the pandemic, with many artists choosing this style of creation. From Eastern ink paintings to sumi-e (Japanese ink paintings known as a Zen style), to Western abstract art, many artists have used simplification as a path to the infinite – where art is not just for viewing, but for awakening. Artist Tran Trung Linh analyzes: “The work is not simply visual art, but a metaphor of consciousness: when the colors dissolve, the viewer confronts silence – not emptiness, but the fullness of awareness.”

Painting from the heart is often understood by many as a form of meditative painting, but whether it truly touches upon meditation, for artist Tran Trung Linh, is a matter of personal experience. He expressed: “The greatest wish of this exhibition is to express through paintings, to make viewers feel and share a sense of peaceful reality. I temporarily borrowed Buddhist philosophy for this series of paintings, partly because I feel my mind is leaning towards that way of thinking, and partly because there have been events in my life that have led me to temporarily ‘realize’ this. However, the paintings are mostly based on the idea and do not depict the Heart Sutra.”

Self-reflection

Previously, the exhibition "Women Painting About Women" took place at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, showcasing works that delve into the inner world, with the artists reflecting on themselves to send gentle messages and heal the souls of viewers. The exhibition presented a unique situation – where the creative subject and the object of expression are one, and also where the woman chooses to tell her own story, through personal, honest, and exploratory perspectives.

With 69 works on display, the exhibition serves as a personal confession from the 9 participating female artists, like whispered diary entries, revealing the origins of their creativity, their anxieties, and the simmering beliefs in each brushstroke and color. These whispers invite viewers to slow down and listen – not only to see the paintings, but to feel them with their hearts, where colors are not just colors, but also vibrant emotions; where forms are not just shapes, but echoes from within.

Artist Dang Hien, one of the nine female artists participating in the exhibition, expressed: “Women are always present as a source of life, gentle yet strong, fragile yet resilient. They are my inspiration, the starting point of my art. Each work is a personal journey, where I touch memories, find my mother within me, and dialogue with myself. There is hurt, longing, but also light, love, and gratitude. I paint to share, to connect, and to heal. If someone finds peace in my work, then art is complete.”

For example, artist Nguyen Thuy Duong, a mother of four, creates works that reflect a part of her own life, depicting the maternal role of pregnancy and childbirth in a minimalist style. The full, rounded curves symbolize fertility in contemporary art, with the pregnant woman appearing as the center of life, transformation, and procreation.

Artist Thuy Duong shared: “For me, the beauty of pregnancy lies not only in the full, rounded form, but also in the blossoming of the inner self, where creative energy, love, and sacredness reside. I believe that when present in a living space, these works will radiate vitality, love, and a deep connection to the origins of being human. This is not an exhibition to admire beauty, but a space for people to empathize, reflect, and find themselves in things that seem to belong to others.”

The 4th "Uncle Ho in My Heart" Contest 2025

To provide readers with the opportunity to learn more about President Ho Chi Minh, affirm the great significance, practical value, and widespread impact of studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, moral example, and style, and to ignite a passion for reading and encourage and promote the reading movement in schools and the community, the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library is organizing the 4th "Ho Chi Minh in My Heart" contest in 2025 for readers within the library system.

Accordingly, readers are invited to share their feelings about a book or work by President Ho Chi Minh, or by other authors about him, that has inspired, raised awareness, and guided the study and emulation of President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts, ethics, and style. Entries can be in the following forms: written reviews, video clips (performed by the contestant), drawings (never before published), etc. The preliminary round of the competition runs from now until June 15th. Qualifying entries will participate in the final round. The awards ceremony is scheduled for July 18th. Contestants should submit their entries to: phongdoc@thuvientphcm.gov.vn. Further information about the competition can be found on the website: https://thuvientphcm.gov.vn.

HO SON

Ho Chi Minh City organizes public art performances using Video Art technology.

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has approved the proposal from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports regarding the socialization of the promotion and advertising of literary and artistic works and the artistic brand of Ho Chi Minh City using multi-sensory video art performance technology. The promotional activities will be organized by Creative Art Trading and Service Company Limited. The events will take place from now until the end of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse 2026) at 23-9 Park, in the Ben Thanh metro station area (Area A).

Accordingly, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports will take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to develop a specific plan with a timeline for promoting and publicizing the city's literary and artistic works during the 2025-2027 period, combining content and forms of promoting literary and artistic works and artistic brands. A plan will be developed to organize the "Shining Quintessence" Artistic Creative Space to enhance the socialization of activities promoting and publicizing the city's literary and artistic works, creating a strong spread of artistic values ​​in social life.

LIBRA

Chamber Music Art Program

On the evening of May 25th, at the City Theatre, the Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra, Opera and Ballet Theatre (HBSO) presented a chamber music concert. The program offered classical music lovers exceptional musical works by world-renowned composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gaetano Donizetti, Dmitri Shostakovich, Camille Saint-Saens, and Johann Sebastian Bach… The works will take the audience on a journey through diverse emotions, from gentle and relaxing to powerful and vibrant melodies.

The concert features Meritorious Artist Pham Khanh Ngoc (soprano), Meritorious Artist Tang Thanh Nam (violin), A Tach (fagot), Tran Thuy San (piano), Nguyen Truong Hoang Yen (flute), Hoang Ngoc Anh Quan (clarinet), Pham Khanh Toan (oboe), and especially two guest artists: Nguyen Hoang Tung (oboe) and Korean female artist Ju Sun Young (piano). Ju Sun Young is a pianist with extensive performance experience in the United States and other parts of the world. Ju has taught piano at Tabor University, USA, and holds a Master's and Doctoral degree in piano performance from the University of Kansas, USA.

The Chamber Music Concert program is one of HBSO's efforts to improve quality and aim for high-quality art. The programs feature performances by many famous artists from Vietnam and around the world, enriching and diversifying the artistic programs, creating more opportunities for HBSO artists to interact, learn from each other, and meet the diverse entertainment needs of a large audience in Ho Chi Minh City.

THUY BINH

LIBRA

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/hoi-hoa-cham-ngo-noi-tam-post796276.html