Minimalist artist exhibits Zen-influenced paintings

Entitled Bong va Hinh (Shadow and Shape), the on-going exhibition displays 22 oil-on-canvas paintings created in 2016 and 2017. The artworks were inspired by the simple, familiar things in life: streets, houses, trees, rivers and furniture.

“These are the ingredients for my works, but perhaps they could be seen differently through the exhibition and evoke something else, rather than just being some shadows and shapes,” the artist said.

Since beginning his journey with minimalism 30 years ago, the 56-year-old artist has practiced the minimalist style in every way possible.

In Shadow and Shape, exhibition goers can see a unique approach to minimalism as the paintings reflect the influence of Buddhism and the idea of Zen.

“Maybe the artist wants to create a new ‘art-meditation’ approach where art has symbolic and suggestive values,” said art critic Phan Cam Thuong.

At 10.30am on May 5, the minimalist painter joined some other artists for a discussion about art.

Together with the Shadow and Shape, the VCCA is also hosting another exhibition featuring 60 pieces by veteran painter Pham Luc, one of the most renowned painters in Vietnam. The works were selected by artist and curator Cuong from Nguyen Si Dung’s private collection of 700 artworks.

Cuong said: “Luc possesses a liberated, spontaneous spirit when it comes to painting. Looking at his works, viewers can easily feel the strong waves of emotions. For Luc, painting is catching those emotions and put them on the canvas. His style is quick and direct – no styling, ‘pruning’ or complicating what he has painted.”

The two free exhibitions are open to public from 10am to 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday, until May 20. The VCCA is at R3-B1, Vincom Megamall Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai road, Thanh Xuan district.