The "Witch" transforms images.

Reporter: Performance painting (painting on stage) is a relatively unfamiliar profession in Vietnam. However, this art form has been gaining popularity recently. Did you feel any pressure when you received the record?

Artisan Nguyen Tien

- Artist NGUYEN TIEN: To set the aforementioned record, I demonstrated nine art forms including: dynamic sand painting, glitter painting, water painting (splashing paint), fire painting, watercolor painting, reverse watercolor painting, electric painting, spray paint painting, and painting with a knife.

Each stage performance lasts from 3 to 7 minutes, depending on the medium. Since childhood, I've been passionate about painting. While studying at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture, I helped out at my family's advertising painting shop, formed a group of friends to paint murals, car bodies, helmets, etc., to earn income.

By 2010, I began to discover my passion for sand painting. I researched and used various materials and painting techniques to diversify my performances.

What was the biggest obstacle in your research process?

- The biggest difficulty was that this art form was so new that there was no one to learn from. Even the equipment and performance techniques were very vague. I spent quite a lot of money investing in new productions, because if something went wrong, I had to discard it and start over. Once you've chosen this profession, you just have to accept it.

Many viewers compare you to a "magician" when it comes to painting. What do you think about that?

- A performance artist needs to be creative, meaning they are always exploring and experimenting with new things, knowing how to create surprises and transform creative ideas into products. I am interested in finding music to coordinate my body movements with the melodies to create a captivating performance.

Artist Nguyen Tien is creating a masterpiece. Photo: THANH HIEP

Calling me a "magician" of image transformation is a way for the audience to show their appreciation, but it's also a pressure because if I stay stagnant, it's difficult to satisfy them. Therefore, I have to constantly explore new things in my profession. The title "magician" will be a motivation for me to strive even harder to set new records.

What is the most memorable experience you've had in your career?

- My first fire painting performance left me with the most memorable experience. At that time, I was still in the research and development phase of fire painting when a client called: "Could you paint a portrait of a foreign client for me using fire?" - this event took place at "Sol Kitchen & Bar District 7" (District 7, Ho Chi Minh City). I accepted the offer even though I had never performed fire painting on stage before. Fortunately, I succeeded, despite a few mistakes.

Sand painting was the first art form he performed in various places starting in 2012. Now that there are many people specializing in sand painting, does he worry about competition?

- I don't mind competition; on the contrary, I'm happy to have a counterweight that keeps me constantly reinventing myself. This art form fulfills the purpose of "storytelling." Sand is used to erase and redraw on the glass surface, and with each frame, the artist recreates their story with their hands on the sand. The advantage of sand is that it can convey a lot of content and messages. The key is knowing how to select images, compress them into brushstrokes, to create surprise and interest for the viewer.

Glitter painting is also in high demand. The painting is done on a black or white background; the artist uses a brush and clear glue to spray glitter onto the canvas. The image only becomes visible when the artist tosses the glitter powder into the air. This type of glitter painting, with its luxurious, shimmering gold color, can be used to create portraits of one or more people at once, as well as logos, product images, and more.

With watercolor painting, the painting is revealed when the artist pours a liquid, similar to watercolor paint, onto the canvas, at which point the portrait or artwork comes to life in a very vivid way.

What do you hope to achieve by dedicating yourself to performance painting?

- I hope this art form will be embraced by everyone as a form of entertainment. In fact, the further development of this art form will contribute to preserving cultural values ​​and promoting the image of the Vietnamese people and national identity to the world .

What is your most memorable moment from the day you first arrived in Ho Chi Minh City?

- I vividly remember the image of Bach Dang Wharf with its large ships cutting through the waves. I secretly wished I could stand on one of those ships. Those ships seemed to carry my ambitions, motivating me to pursue this profession and dedicate myself to it.

Will Nguyen Tien open a class to teach and pass on his skills to the younger generation?

- To achieve the success I have today, I have experienced many failures and incurred considerable expenses. Performance painting is a fascinating art form, so in the near future I will definitely open classes to share my experience with young people who share the same passion.

Are you satisfied with what you have achieved?

- Being able to live with painting and pursue my passion is a great happiness for me. I have been a performance artist for over 12 years, and even now, I still love my profession intensely and harbor many new ideas. I am still challenging myself, nurturing my enthusiasm to achieve more success with my chosen path.

Artist Nguyen Tien shared: "Whenever I have free time, I often volunteer my painting skills at monasteries, temples, or kindergartens. Because I believe that beauty is needed everywhere, and I want to contribute a little effort to beautify the community."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nghe-nhan-nguyen-tien-phu-thuy-bien-hoa-hinh-anh-19624081721541116.htm