'The non-existent floor' and the accidental 'touches' of artist Nguyen Thanh Nhan

On the evening of December 20, at Maii Art Space Gallery (72/7 Tran Quoc Toan, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City), artist Nguyen Thanh Nhan opened the exhibition "Non-Existent Floor", displaying 25 abstract paintings (running until December 30).

Artist Nguyen Thanh Nhan was born in 1979, studied graphic design at the College of Culture and Arts, then graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in 2010. Before studying fine arts, he was an infantryman in the 5th Division.

Viewers contemplate the Void

When he accidentally touched a peeling wall, he discovered that behind the overlapping layers of color was a very vibrant breath of life.

Coming to the Non-Existent Floor after 20 years of hard work of the artist, art lovers know that the works displayed in this exhibition were born from the accidental touches of the author.

For example, when looking out onto the balcony from the third floor of an art gallery, he came across a very old architectural work - over 50 years old with a unique design. The windows, vents, and peeling walls... awakened his senses, creating inspiration for his work. Another time, when he accidentally touched a peeling wall, he discovered that behind the overlapping layers of color there was a very vibrant breath of life.

Or the last time he went to the beach, amidst the endless blue of the ocean, he saw many sparkling white patches and his heart suddenly rejoiced because he knew that the coral reefs were still thriving, carrying a strong vitality. Then when he was in a room of an ancient building, or from the attic window looking down on a short, small road, he touched the peaceful rays of sunlight in the sparsely populated noon.

Stop, listen and feel

Painter Phan Trong Van commented: " The non-existent layer of painter Nguyen Thanh Nhan brings a profound artistic experience, viewers can feel the ambiguity between reality and illusion. The feeling of 'everything seen is lost, there is but not there and vice versa' is one of the highlights in Nhan's work, creating an artistic space full of philosophy and meditation, about emptiness, where everything seems to no longer exist clearly, the mind is freed from the constraints of reality, allowing viewers to experience a quiet space".

Also according to artist Phan Trong Van: " The existing space is not only a physical void but also a spiritual space, where thoughts and emotions can freely fly, helping viewers return to themselves. The works are not only visual signals but also spaces for reflection and contemplation. Viewers are invited to stop, listen and feel, find peace, a visual feast not only for the eyes but also for the mind".

Some selected works of the author displayed at the exhibition

"Every day, when I pass by the walls and see the ruins, I stop, observe, touch, look down below and explore it little by little," said artist Nguyen Thanh Nhan.

Sharing with Thanh Nien reporters about the exhibition, artist Nguyen Thanh Nhan said: "The existing space shows the simple and familiar things around us. Personally, I see that hidden behind the layers of plaster or the walls. I encounter traces of time and convey many messages. It is those walls that have observed and witnessed the dynamism in life. Every day, when I pass by the walls and see the ruins, I stop, observe, touch, look down and explore it little by little. Through this exhibition, I want others to feel my experiences: walking, stopping and contemplating."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tang-khong-hien-huu-va-nhung-cu-cham-vo-tinh-cua-hoa-si-nguyen-thanh-nhan-185241221082550046.htm