Looking at the "inverted" portraits of Trinh Cong Son and Bui Xuan Phai

The exhibition "Origin" by painter Nguyen Dai Giang opened on October 15 in Hanoi, introducing 32 oil and acrylic paintings with themes of life, culture, portraits of artists... bringing viewers into the world of "reverse art".

This is not the first time artist Nguyen Dai Giang has opened an exhibition of paintings on reverse art. Previously, in 2018, he made a splash when he sold out all 22 works in his solo exhibition in Hanoi .

Painter Nguyen Dai Giang (Photo: Character provided).

At this Origin exhibition, portraits of famous Vietnamese artists such as Bui Xuan Phai, To Hoai, Trinh Cong Son, Nguyen Quang Thieu... from the "contrary" perspective of painter Nguyen Dai Giang are very impressive, attractive and make viewers curious and interested.

These are all people that the artist admires, when coming into contact with their works or reading and researching their life portraits.

Painter Nguyen Dai Giang believes that life always has good and bad side by side, all things change, the beginning and the end are the same. From there was born the art of reversal - drawing a figure in a picture that has right and wrong, but in the end still retains the essence of art, a very beautiful reality.

"I don't look with a realistic eye but through philosophical and artistic thinking. In portraits, I often draw the mouth on the forehead with the implication that "trouble comes from the mouth", so when speaking, we must use our intelligence and think carefully; the nose is turned up to breathe fresh air, the eyes are under the chin to advise people to be more humble.

At this age, I always want to tell young people: "Life has ups and downs, but no matter what, it is always beautiful and bright," he shared.

Painting of musician Trinh Cong Son by artist Nguyen Dai Giang on display at the exhibition "Origins" (Photo: HH).

Painting of writer Nguyen Huy Thiep (Photo: Character provided).

At the age of 79, artist Nguyen Dai Giang has a lot of love and concerns for his roots and his country. "I will soon return to Vietnam to live in the next few years. At the end of life, everyone wants to return to their homeland and roots," the artist said.

This solo exhibition Origin is a herald of that return.

Currently, artist Nguyen Dai Giang lives in the US. He shared that in order to practice art in the US, he must comply with all strict regulations on copyright and professional ethics. He has been granted copyright for his "reverse art", thanks to which he can exhibit and introduce his paintings around the world.

The work "Ca Tru Hanoi" in the exhibition "Origin" (Photo: Character provided).

Commenting on the art of painter Nguyen Dai Giang, sculptor Ta Quang Bao said: "As the years go by, the artist and painter are only left with their names in life through their works. The value of a person is the result of their labor.

Talking a lot, talking well will also pass away. Dai Giang has found his own path, a unique individual artistic path to stand firm in the art world, to express his personality and artistic character. Doing art just like that is enough."

Painter Nguyen Dai Giang was born in 1944 in Hanoi. He graduated from the 3rd Industrial Fine Arts College and the 1st Industrial Fine Arts University in Hanoi. From 1969 to 1974, he majored in graphics at the Moscow Industrial Fine Arts School (Russia), then further studied graphics in Seattle (Washington, USA) (1996 - 1997).

Nguyen Dai Giang is a rare Vietnamese artist who lives in the Art Space building built by the US government specifically for artists.

He participated in many international exhibitions and organized domestic exhibitions (in Ho Chi Minh City in 2009; Hanoi in 2014, 2018; Hue in 2016; Da Nang in 2018).

His paintings have received many major awards in the world such as: Most Modern Paintings for CD-Rom (New York, USA, 1996); Third Prize "Most Talented Artists"; Third Prize "World of Art" (Stockholm, Sweden, 1997)... and are present in many countries: Japan, Canada, Belgium, France, Spain...

Source link: https://dantri.com.vn/van-hoa/ngam-chan-dung-dao-nguoc-cua-trinh-cong-son-bui-xuan-phai-20231016170627548.htm