Le Thiet Cuong and the way of criticizing paintings without 'sprinkling perfume'

'I am a rare artist who can read paintings. Although I remind myself to be humble, I have to say that,' artist Le Thiet Cuong confided when launching his second book, Conversations with Painting.

Artist Le Thiet Cuong signs books for readers - Photo: T.DIEU

Le Thiet Cuong is a unique and sharp person. No one has ever said that he is a modest and unassuming person. But what he claims about himself: "a rare painter who knows how to read paintings" (or rather, understands and writes about paintings to share with everyone), is true.

Other criticism

God usually gives each person only one talent. Artists who are good at drawing are often not good at speaking or writing. Le Thiet Cuong is lucky to have both of these talents, a case that is not common in the Vietnamese fine arts community.

During the Indochina fine arts period, people who were good at drawing and writing about paintings included Nguyen Do Cung and To Ngoc Van. These two men wrote many articles criticizing their friends' paintings in newspapers.

Later, people who both painted and wrote about paintings, about their colleagues, were painters Do Duc and Le Thiet Cuong. Phan Cam Thuong was in the opposite case, he started out as an art critic and then became famous as a painter.

In conclusion, it can be seen that artists who write about fine arts like Le Thiet Cuong are truly rare.

Le Thiet Cuong admits he is a rare artist who writes art criticism - Photo: T.DIEU

Mr. Cuong said that when he goes to see a painting or an exhibition, he has a personal need to write, first to talk to himself, trying to find out what is special about that painting or exhibition. Then he talks to everyone. And writing is also a way for him to learn, about many things.

Because he is a painter who writes about paintings, his criticism is also different, not academic but full of the professional spirit of a professional. 70 selected articles in 20 years of writing about fine arts by Le Thiet Cuong are included in the book Conversations with Painting (Hoi Nha Van Publishing House).

There are still criticisms, theories, and research on art history, but there are more technical stories, stories about professional practices, and especially interesting "side stories" that only insiders and knowledgeable people like Le Thiet Cuong can understand and retell in a different, unique writing style.

The book Conversation with Painting by Le Thiet Cuong - Photo: T.DIEU

Select a slice

I deeply understand the saying that writer Nguyen Huy Thiep shared with me: criticism that only praises famous people is no different than sprinkling perfume on a corpse. Le Thiet Cuong chose to write about masters, friends and juniors without that "sprinkling perfume" style.

With masters like Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Nguyen Sang, Duong Bich Lien, Bui Xuan Phai, Van Cao... he did not write a summary of their illustrious careers but chose a certain section to write about.

For example, Nguyen Tu Nghiem wrote about his talent for exploiting his father's traditional capital to create his own new creations.

In the case of Nguyen Gia Tri, Mr. Cuong chose to write about the work Spring Garden of Central, South and North . In the case of Nguyen Sang, he chose to write about the work Admission to the Party in Dien Bien Phu. With Nguyen Phan Chanh, he only commented on the work The Rice Seller .

With Van Cao, it is the story of drawing covers and illustrating books and newspapers by the talented musician, specifically the story of Van Cao drawing the cover of the essay " Hanoi, we are good at fighting the Americans" by Nguyen Tuan.

With Bui Xuan Phai, Mr. Cuong did not write about the famous "Phai Street" of the famous painter but chose to write about the little-known painting "The Artist's Family in the Shelter" , in which Bui Xuan Phai painted his wife and children in the shelter of his house on Thuoc Bac Street on a winter day in 1972 when American bombs were screaming overhead.

In particular, with Duong Bich Lien, Mr. Cuong chose to tell the very interesting "adventure" story of the painting Hao. The story of the painting's fate speaks volumes about the artist's artistic talent and the historical and contemporary story.

With that writing style, very familiar artists suddenly appear unique and attractive.

With colleagues and young people, Le Thiet Cuong has a lot of affection and respect for talent.

Each artist, under Le Thiet Cuong's writings, whether short or long, still appears with a unique "fingerprint", contributing to art.

As for Le Thiet Cuong, this book is another way he contributes to art.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/le-thiet-cuong-va-loi-phe-binh-tranh-khong-vay-nuoc-hoa-20250605095233797.htm