Revitalizing silk painting with a contemporary spirit.

Silk painting has made a strong comeback in recent years with many new creations from a new generation of artists. From solo exhibitions to international art competitions, more and more artists are choosing silk as a medium to explore new artistic languages.

Finding your personal voice

In the history of Vietnamese art, silk painting is a unique genre, named after its base material rather than its surface material like oil or lacquer. It is the silk material itself – soft, absorbent, thin, and difficult to control – that has given this style its distinctive beauty for decades, contributing to shaping the identity of Vietnamese art with prominent names such as Nguyen Phan Chanh, Mai Trung Thu, and Le Pho…

However, for a long time, silk painting seemed to be rarely mentioned, partly because, for many artists, silk painting was difficult to innovate due to the limitations of the silk material, leading to restrained expression and a tendency to be confined within familiar motifs. The resurgence of silk painting in recent years is therefore a noteworthy development.

Visitors at the silk painting exhibition themed "What is Real?" currently taking place in Ho Chi Minh City. PHOTO: Organizers

The solo exhibition titled "What Is Real?" (currently taking place at TomuraLee Gallery, 24 Street No. 1, An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) by artist Bui Tien is an example of this movement. Bui Tien, born in 1993 in Phu Yen, is one of the prominent figures among today's young artists. The exhibition features 25 silk paintings with soft color palettes, serene faces, and delicate images that seem to drift through memory.

According to artist Bui Tien, the most important thing for silk painting today is not about preserving traditional techniques or trying to create differences in form, but about finding one's own voice. "Silk painting almost forces the artist to engage in a dialogue with restraint. A lack of honesty with oneself can easily turn a work into a mere decoration or simply a display of skill," the female artist shared.

According to Bui Tien, if a material only exists as a memory of the past, it will sooner or later become a "museum." What gives silk painting its enduring vitality is its ability to absorb the spirit of the new era: the ability to reflect the anxieties, disconnections, or crises of faith of modern man.

Creating a new look

One notable aspect of the resurgence of silk painting is the reaction of the younger public. At recent silk painting exhibitions, young people have been a significant presence, spending considerable time standing still in front of the artworks instead of just glancing quickly and moving on, as is often the case in many other venues.

Nguyen Thi Hoai Trang (26 years old, residing in Ban Co Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said that when she came to the exhibition "What Is Real?", she was surprised that silk paintings could create such a sense of closeness to modern life.

"Previously, I thought silk paintings usually had a classical feel, but in this exhibition, the silk paintings evoke very contemporary emotions. There are some paintings that make me feel like I'm looking into my own mental state," Trang shared.

At the "Keeper of Time - Ancient Times" exhibition currently taking place at Chillala Space (75 Xuan Thuy Street, An Khanh Ward), viewers are also delighted to enjoy the silk paintings of artist Hoang Minh Hang - one of the renowned artists from before 1975.

These works, both academic and technically accomplished, yet imbued with a contemporary spirit, allow viewers to slow down and observe the evolution of a style of painting that is both delicate and enduring over time.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc (36 years old, lecturer at Van Lang University) said: “Before, I always thought that silk paintings were limited to a few themes and styles due to the properties of silk. However, after seeing the silk paintings of artist Hoang Minh Hang, I was truly surprised to see that the silk background could express such unique features of modern painting.”

The return of silk painting, blending tradition and modernity, is creating a new dimension in contemporary art. Artist Nguyen Thi Hoang Minh, a lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, explains: “To create a beautiful silk painting composition, lines and shapes are crucial elements.”

Silk is not a material that is as expressive in terms of texture, brushstrokes, or surface effects as many other materials, so the artist needs meticulousness, gentleness, and the ability to follow the silk's surface. A beautiful silk painting also requires maintaining the transparency of the material's surface, which is different from many other forms of painting.”

The resurgence of silk painting is therefore not simply a trend of returning to traditional materials, but also an effort to renew the heritage with a contemporary spirit. When the younger generation of artists dares to step outside the traditional barriers, silk painting also escapes its own shadow to become an artistic language capable of broader dialogue with today's world .

CA DAO

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lam-moi-tranh-lua-voi-tinh-than-duong-dai-post854723.html