When the poet picks up a paintbrush

A poet who paints! Strange, unbelievable, but if you think about it carefully, what's so unusual about it? Poetry and painting are not two separate worlds . Poets write with words to evoke images, while painters paint images to evoke emotions. When a poet turns to painting, aren't they simply seeking a new language to tell an old story?

In Vietnam, this phenomenon is no longer unfamiliar. Bui Chat and Nguyen Quang Thieu, two renowned poets, have now become well-known names in the art world. They paint, hold exhibitions, and their paintings, regardless of whether they meet technical standards or not, are still well-received, sometimes at considerable prices. But what is it about their paintings that makes people willing to spend money? What makes their stories so intriguing?

Bui Chat and his paintings

Artistic intersection

Bui Chat's unique style, like that of someone who doesn't know how to paint, has made his work special. His paintings don't adhere to any rules or adhere to compositional principles. They're like free verse, sometimes chaotic, sometimes fragmented, but always full of emotion. In his "Improvisation" exhibition, he once said: " Painting is my way of improvising emotions, even before they solidify into words." And that's the appeal of his paintings: not striving for perfection, but for authenticity.

However, this journey was far from easy. Bui Chat once shared: " People say I paint like a third-grade child. But for me, painting isn't about proving my talent, but about freeing myself from constraints . " This statement partly reflects the skepticism he faced from both the public and the professional community. The erratic brushstrokes and seemingly meaningless empty spaces in his paintings are often criticized as "technically poor," yet they contain profound emotions that poetry sometimes fails to express.

Paintings by Bui Chat

While Bui Chat was a rebel in both poetry and painting, Nguyen Quang Thieu brought a profound dreamlike quality to his art. His paintings don't depict reality but recreate memories, from fields, herds of cattle, rooftops to flute players… like fragments distorted by time and imagination. However, he also faced challenges. Criticisms such as, " He's a poet, why doesn't he focus on poetry instead of painting?" appeared, putting pressure on him to prove that his painting wasn't solely based on his existing reputation from poetry.

Nguyen Quang Thieu once said, " The fields in my poetry are not real fields, and neither are the fields in my paintings." In his paintings, everything is unusually exaggerated or miniaturized, creating a space that is both surreal and like the fleeting memories of a dream. But this very difference sometimes leads to his paintings being misunderstood as "lacking visual depth." However, those who truly appreciate his paintings realize that they evoke a depth of nostalgia, something that words sometimes cannot fully grasp.

When amateurs create legends.

Not only in Vietnam, the story of a poet wielding a paintbrush has left its mark on world art history. William Blake, the renowned English poet, not only wrote poetry but also painted. In works such as *The Ancient of Days * or *Newton* , his paintings resemble visual poetry; each brushstroke is symbolic, suggesting layers of meaning that go far beyond the surface image.

Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Nobel Prize-winning poet, also faced considerable skepticism when he entered the world of painting. He left behind over 2,000 paintings full of emotion and freedom, but when confronted with questions from his contemporaries , Tagore replied: " Color is a song I cannot sing with words." That is why his paintings, though not belonging to any particular school, still possess a powerful allure, for they evoke a world of emotions that are elusive yet easily relatable.

Tourists exchange ideas while viewing Bui Chat's artworks.

Even famous painters like Vincent van Gogh and Jean-Michel Basquiat were once amateurs. They didn't receive formal training, but it was this lack of formality that shaped their unique styles. Van Gogh, with his dazzling yellow hues, and Basquiat, with his chaotic brushstrokes like the screams of an uneasy soul, proved that art doesn't need perfect technique, but a genuine heart.

Art knows no boundaries, no prejudices.

When a poet paints, they are often seen as "amateurs," as curious individuals venturing into a world that doesn't belong to them. But is that fair? A beautiful painting isn't about technical correctness or incorrectness, but about what it can touch in the viewer's soul.

The paintings of Bui Chat, Nguyen Quang Thieu, and William Blake do not strive for visual "beauty" but rather for honesty in the soul. They paint not to compete with other artists but to expand their creative language. And it is this courage to confront prejudice and overcome challenges that gives these works their special appeal.

Painting, like all other art forms, is not a skill competition. Professional artists may need a little more openness, rather than letting academic norms become a barrier. Art is not a sacred space for anyone. It is a vast home where anyone—poet, painter, or art lover—has the right to create and express themselves. As William Blake once wrote: " We never know what we can do until we are free to try."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khi-nha-tho-cam-co-185241203150319614.htm