Lost in the 'sound of silence' by Van Duong Thanh

“The Sound of Silence” is the artist’s 110th exhibition with 40 works in lacquer, oil and acrylic. The Sound of Silence - expresses her love for mother earth.

The exhibition displays the artist's latest works. The main theme is the image of the crane and the sacred Dragon of the Year of the Dragon with a bright, gentle style, full of joy and happiness, honoring the beauty of ancient Hanoi architecture over hundreds of years and paying tribute to the famous people and teachers who have deeply influenced the female artist Van Duong Thanh.

Painter Van Duong Thanh (left cover) at an exhibition event.

Artist Van Duong Thanh has painted many paintings of cranes, however, the artist's feelings about this topic are always overflowing. With each work, the artist always finds new creative motifs and uses brush strokes and color blocks to express her feelings and perspective on the cranes. The theme of the Crane paintings is musicality, with a beginning and a return, with many high and low tones, gentle and graceful. The image of the crane always has movement, but the artist cleverly reserves very delicate large areas at the back of the painting so that the audience can have quiet moments to enjoy. For Thanh, the crane is a symbol of love, strength, happiness, reunion, fulfillment and sublimation.

Besides the theme of cranes, the exhibition also displays a series of paintings that have created Van Duong Thanh's own mark, which is paintings of Hanoi. From the corners of the old streets, spring on Hang Gai street, to the scenic spots along the country... Artist Van Duong Thanh said that when she was a child, living in Quan Thanh street, she often went to Ngu Xa ward by the swamp of Truc Bach lake, where there is the sophisticated bronze casting art of Hanoi. Those images have left a deep impression in her memory and seem to always appear unconsciously in the composition, brushstrokes, and rhythm of Van Duong Thanh's paintings.

The exhibition also introduces to the audience a series of portraits of people who deeply influenced Van Duong Thanh as a child, such as: Indira Gandhi, Vo Nguyen Giap, Bui Xuan Phai, Van Cao, Kitaro, Pushkin, Brancusi...

In particular, “The Sound of Silence” will display a portrait of female artist Van Duong Thanh by famous artist Bui Xuan Phai, which was exhibited at the National Museum of Sweden in 2000 - the first time it was introduced to Vietnamese audiences at V-Art Space. The oil painting on rice sack cloth was washed clean by Thanh, coated with buffalo skin glue, painted with white paint, and stretched for Mr. Phai to paint. Due to this history, the hemp cloth was twisted, creating cracks in the oil paint. However, the Museum's art critics consider this to be one of the most outstanding works.

Exhibition space "The sound of silence" exhibition in Hanoi.

The work "Women in the flower field" by artist Van Duong Thanh.

With strokes that are sometimes strong, sometimes gentle, harmonies that are sometimes contrasting, sometimes soft, the technique of placing colors side by side is truly harmonious, unified in the skillful combination of folk culture and abstract art. Viewers always share the artist's vibration and find themselves in each of Thanh's strokes.

Perhaps this painting recalls a feature of childhood, or that painting records fleeting memories, or a bit of something encountered in a fulfilling journey. That explains the love of some collectors for Van Duong Thanh's paintings.

Van Duong Thanh is one of the talented female painters of Asia, has won many prestigious art awards such as "International Outstanding Art of CFMI, USA-France 1995 and 1997, "Glory to Vietnam" in 2007 at the Temple of Literature.

The artist's paintings are collected and displayed at many National Museums of Fine Arts such as: Vietnam, China, India, Sweden, Spain, Poland, Romania, Singapore... Her paintings are also in the collections of Heads of State such as President Barack Obama, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, President of Malta George Vella, Crown Princess of Sweden Victoria De Cire, Crown Princess of Denmark Mary Elizabeth and Queen Camilla of England and prestigious private collections at home and abroad. With her tireless efforts over the past 30 years as a "cultural bridge builder", Van Duong Thanh is also known as the "ambassador of Vietnamese culture".

Not only passionate about creating, the female artist has also spent the past 25 years realizing her dream of cultivating artistic talents, especially for disabled children, and giving scholarships to disadvantaged children.

News and photos: Trung Nguyen

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lac-vao-am-thanh-cua-su-tinh-lang-cua-van-duong-thanh-post289789.html