Tran Trung Linh makes a strong impression with the visual journey 'Color and Emptiness'

The full guest space speaks volumes about the appeal of the exhibition 'Color and Emptiness', marking the return of artist Tran Trung Linh after his post-Impressionist tour 'Van Gogh in Saigon' and 'Pop Art - Hahaha at Sai Gon, Ha Noi, Hoi An' in 2023.

On the evening of May 9 at Chillala - House of Art (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), artist Tran Trung Linh met the audience and art collectors again with the first solo exhibition of 2025 - Color and Emptiness.

Enjoy paintings by artist Tran Trung Linh

Photo: Chillala – House of Art

Painter Tran Trung Linh (left) and founder of Chillala art space - House of Art Tang Bao Quyen at the opening of the exhibition

Photo: Chillala – House of Art

Compared to previous solo exhibitions, in Color and Emptiness , artist Tran Trung Linh chose a different direction: looking inward.

Photo: Chillala – House of Art

Artist Tran Trung Linh was born in 1977 in Hoi An ( Quang Nam ), graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in 2001. Following the creative process of the Quang Nam artist, viewers realize that Tran Trung Linh's artistic personality "jumps" through different schools, but most clearly expressionism and Pop Art. He was influenced by Van Gogh, Egon Schiele, Pollock and other contemporary names such as Bacon, Jenny Saville or Basquiat.

Color and Emptiness : Art for Awakening

Coming to the exhibition Color and Emptiness , viewers are impressed and delighted to see paintings full of color, strong images, and lots of movement. All emotions are suppressed, caught in the vortex of form, desire, and discrimination. But the deeper you go, the color fades, the images are simplified, and finally there are black and white, quiet patches.

Actress Truong Ngoc Anh and guests attending the exhibition

Photo: Chillala – House of Art

Compared to his previous solo exhibitions, in Color and Emptiness, artist Tran Trung Linh chose a different direction: looking inward. At the height of his life and career, he embarked on a philosophical journey, a dialogue between art and Eastern spirit. The exhibition is like a visual journey from ignorance to wisdom.

According to Buddhist thought, form (色) and emptiness (空) are not two opposing entities but two aspects of the same nature. "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form" - the mantra in the Heart Sutra is manifested through each layer of color, each stroke of Tran Trung Linh's brush.

It can be seen that from Oriental ink paintings to Japanese Zen sumi-e or Western abstract art, many artists have used simplification as a path to the infinite. And Tran Trung Linh, through Color and Emptiness , is also placing himself in that flow - where art is not only for viewing, but also for awakening.

Cosmic #3 (2024), mixed media, 150 x 180 cm

Photo: SiLart Station

Where You End I Begin (2025), oil on canvas, 140 x 10 cm

Photo: SiLart Station

Human Life Drawing #2 (2025), oil on canvas, 180 x 300 cm

Photo: SiLart Station

It is known that after graduating from art school in 2013, Tran Trung Linh temporarily stopped exhibiting his paintings to devote more time to long-term projects, painting series that took 7-8 years to complete. He spent more time on cinema, in many different roles, from designer to director, scriptwriter...

For artist Tran Trung Linh, a multimedia artist cannot just "play around", but with each form and genre, the artist must learn, love, be passionate and love more things so that the work can reach the ultimate emotion...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tran-trung-linh-tao-an-tuong-manh-voi-hanh-trinh-thi-giac-sac-va-khong-185250510130721599.htm