The artist duo An & Huy at the exhibition "Lovers and Light"
Following their 2022 exhibition, the duo of artists from Hue , Dang Thu An and Nguyen Duc Huy, are reuniting with the public in Ho Chi Minh City with their joint exhibition, An & Huy: Lovers and Light, currently on display until January 5, 2026, at Sigma Gallery (107 N3C Street, Global City).
The 42 oil and lacquer paintings in the exhibition are not only visually captivating but also tell inspiring stories about love, about how they stay together, understand each other, and navigate life's challenges together.
From lover to light
For those who have followed An & Huy's journey, "Lovers and Light" holds special significance: another joint exhibition by this "artistic couple."
Especially after An's health setback, love and light in his works shine even brighter with added meaning. This time, Huy brings two lacquer paintings, which also serve as the exhibition's title. In "Lovers," he depicts loving couples intertwined and harmoniously blended amidst vibrant and radiant nature.
Huy paints the woman subtly appearing amidst minimalist shapes, as if searching for her true self. The light in the painting is not dazzling but gentle and soft, like a breath after a tragedy, reflecting the rhythm of hope and rebirth.
Although he made his mark with oil paintings, lacquer painting has been Huy's passion since the beginning. He has long cherished this new series of paintings and enjoys lacquer painting as a slow, tranquil ritual.
Huy's meticulousness and perseverance, like the lacquerware itself, served as a solid support for An during difficult times. He always encouraged her to persevere, and she would overcome everything. In Huy's paintings, love blends into each layer of deep, rich light in the lacquer, moving viewers with a love that needs no words but is strong enough for the other person.
Quietly admiring a peaceful corner in the An & Huy exhibition: Lovers and Light - Photo: H.Vy
A corner of Nguyen Duc Huy's painting bathed in light - Photo: H.VY
Overcoming adversity and transformation
This time, the female figures in An's paintings don't emphasize individual freedom, but rather are filled with contemplation and deeply rooted in traditional East Asian culture, both visually appealing and spiritually profound.
In particular, the series of paintings depicting the transformation of a phoenix is also a way for her to engage in self-dialogue during a period when her health was very fragile.
An recounted that there were times she worried she wouldn't have the strength to complete it. What if she were no longer present? An wanted to preserve the beauty she was pursuing. She chose the image of the phoenix as the embodiment of virtue and eternal beauty, both noble and benevolent, pure and innocent.
Both the ideas and techniques in her paintings clearly reflect her reflections, her struggles, and her battles with herself, filled with both inner turmoil and a yearning for breakthrough.
Besides oil paint, An also challenged herself with lacquer on canvas, a bold experiment because applying gold and silver leaf to the canvas surface required a completely new approach. An continued to research and learn to create a suitable way of expressing the image of the phoenix, which is both noble and majestic, yet mysterious and sensual.
In the way An & Huy talk about the exhibition, love appears frequently but is not cliché. An believes that everyone is a lover, a source of love and light that each person will find in each other and in life.
Huy, on the other hand, expressed: "No matter the ups and downs, I always want to spread love, a passionate love for life and a focus on positive things. Sometimes, when you're too tired, just smile. Smile, and you'll feel happy, and all difficulties will pass..."
While Huy's paintings are characterized by meticulousness, conciseness in form, and profound depth, An's paintings are filled with mysterious, fragile, and subtle emotions.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tinh-nhan-va-anh-sang-cua-an-huy-20251214093649803.htm
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