Painting, women and the red land

Starting from the simple idea of ​​creating “an art game” dedicated to women who hold brushes more than a decade ago, the exhibition series “Back to the Red Land” has become a meaningful journey. Every year, female artists from all three regions set out together: from Hanoi , to Da Nang, then Ho Chi Minh City.

This 11th time, the journey stopped in Pleiku - the land of green tea hills, the sound of wind blowing through pine forests and the quiet red soil color. With nearly 50 works by 30 female artists, the exhibition space at Pleiku Museum seemed to be lit up by dozens of separate worlds , each painting is a soul, each color is a breath.

The work "Fire of Samadhi" by Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien at the exhibition "Returning to the Red Land".

At the exhibition, the work “Fire of Samadhi” by Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien seems to lead the audience on a journey to find the self in life. The painting is a transition from reality to spirituality, expressed by the image of a person in a meditative posture, between the space of lotus flowers, flames and water. The layers of paint go from clear to opaque, with red, blue and black tones interspersed, expressing the contrast between matter and spirit, between stillness and movement. The image of lotus flowers and flames is delicately stylized, carrying the meaning of purification and rebirth.

“My starting point is a researcher of traditional fine arts, especially Buddhist fine arts, so in my works, elements of meditation, enlightenment or enlightenment are always a theme. The works are like my contemplation of the tranquil states of Zen koans, so that the mind, body and spirit can be developed in the richest way. “Samadhi Fire” is a pair of works made from Chinese ink on Do paper and using a unique printing technique, inspired by the flame of wisdom and purity - a symbol in Buddhist art”, Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien shared.

“Vuon Tam” by Nguyen Anh Dao depicts the image of a young woman in a red ao dai in the middle of a flower garden, looking towards the golden moon. The lacquer colors are delicately processed, from the brown and yellow background of the soil, the bronze moonlight, to the bright red color of the ao dai, evoking a feeling of warmth and luxury. The image of a woman is like a symbol of gentle beauty, but also contains the depth of the soul, towards purity and the desire to live.

The work "Heart Garden" by artist Nguyen Anh Dao.

“By the stream of Konnak village” by Ho Thi Xuan Thu takes the audience back to the land of memories, with the scene of children playing under the bare tree on the river bank. The lacquer here is exploited with contrasting layers of color: gray, red, brown, yellow, creating a rough but expressive surface effect. The work seems to remind the circulation of time, where nature, people and memories blend in the same rhythm of life.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Nguyen But with “Central Plateau Whispering”, carries the abstract language typical of lacquer, depicting a woman scooping water and pouring it into a jar. The red, yellow, black, and brown patches are created by grinding, carving, and painting techniques, highlighting the depth and gloss of the material. Honoring the beauty of Vietnamese women who are diligent, persistent, and graceful.

Like a harmony of colors, the works blend in the red color of basalt, the ringing sound of gongs and the beating of a woman's heart: All create a world of rich life, strength and beauty of the soul.

When women spread beauty

From artists of a rare age to young faces born in the 80s, they stand together in a multi-colored painting space, where experience and breakthrough, depth and freshness blend together. As Associate Professor, Dr. Trang Thanh Hien shared: When art is spread, it will create brilliant effects. This exhibition is a testament to the endless creative energy of Vietnamese women.

The work "By the stream of Konnak village" by artist Ho Thi Xuan Thu.

Bringing the exhibition to Gia Lai this time is the wish of artist Ho Thi Xuan Thu, a daughter of the mountain town and also the connecting soul of the journey. She said simply but sincerely: “In Gia Lai, female artists are still very young and have few opportunities to exchange. I want to create a bridge, so that they can feel shared, inspired and confident in creating.”

Nguyen Lan Huong, who initiated this game in 2010, recalls: “At that time, there were only 10 of us. Until now, that message has spread. Drawing, for women, means overcoming prejudices and barriers of natural duty. And yet we did it.”

Taking place on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Women's Union, the exhibition "Back to the Red Land" is not only an art event, but also a song of gratitude to Vietnamese women, who both keep the family fire burning and dare to live their lives for art.

"Whispering of the Plateau" by Nguyen Nguyen But.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee affirmed: "Culture and art are important resources to promote the image of the land and people of the Central Highlands. This exhibition helps the public of Gia Lai to access new artistic values, and at the same time spread the love of art in the community."

And indeed, in the red color of the basalt soil, in the long-lasting sound of gongs and the scent of coffee spreading in the wind, in each painting, viewers not only encounter colors and lines, but also feel the heartbeat, the feelings and the desire to live. Art becomes a way to express gratitude, not with flowers, not with wishes, but with colors, with emotions and with sincerity; becoming a bridge connecting souls, spreading the message of women with their brushstrokes, continuing to write the story of beauty, of faith and love for life.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/ve-mien-dat-do-khuc-hoa-sac-cua-nhung-nguoi-phu-nu-cam-co-897967