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| The work "Ton Nu Ancient Garden 1" |
Taking place from March 23 to April 2, the "Echo" exhibition introduced to viewers 18 works of art created by Le Van Nhuong from 2020 to 2022. The pieces are painted with oil paints, the material that has accompanied him since his days in art school.
With this exhibition, spectators can see the Hue in Le Van Nhuong, delicate in every brush stroke. Each painting is a landscape of Hue: the ancient garden, the image of Ton Nu, the entrance to the relic, the moonlight shining in the mausoleum... All are vividly expressed by the author through paintings, helping viewers to feel the nostalgic beauty of the heritage culture.
In the series of paintings "Echo", "Moon", "Traces", familiar images: the mausoleum gate, the nine urns, the stone horse, the nghe (animal), the elephant, the dragon pattern... in the mausoleums, a corner of the roof of the palace, the patterns, textures, and porcelain enamel paintings are faithfully and meticulously conveyed by Le Van Nhuong. The spaces are more simplistic and are brought closer to the viewers.
Through these works, Hue's cultural heritage is beautiful, luxurious and sophisticated. Not only honoring the craftsmanship in sculpture and architecture of the ancients, each painting is the artist's way of preserving the beauty of the heritage. Hue characteristics are also expressed by the author through soft lines and gentle colors, which are full of nostalgia. Behind each piece is a story about heritage culture.
With two paintings entitled "Traces", Le Van Nhuong mentioned the impact of time, war and people imprinted on the monument. The bullet holes and deviations in the previous restoration process were faithfully shown by the artist from the real image.
A unique highlight is that in the paintings "Echo" depicting statues in the mausoleums, Le Van Nhuong has included images of cows, cats, wild chickens, geckos or sparrows as a lively resonance. A peaceful space in the monument, the old image still associated with modern life is something that viewers can feel, or can relate to and ponder the implications behind it.
In the series of paintings "Ton Nu Ancient Garden", the familiar old and lovely garden of Hue is meticulously depicted through the familiar guarding-screen, flowers and leaves in the garden and also the image of Ton Nu, reminiscent of the image of the old Hue house with the family style.
With the motto that paintings must be beautiful, each of his work is meticulously created. The images portrayed in the painting were all carefully observed, touched, and lived with to nurture emotions. He also studied very carefully to be precise because according to him, the ancients had done so splendidly that only true-to-life painting can show the beauty of heritage...
With "Echo", Le Van Nhuong preserves the heritage values of the ancient capital. They serve as a chance to look at Hue in the past, the present and the future. Each work is created with passion, full emotions, experiences, and dedication of the author. It is also a vivid proof of his special love for Hue.
Le Van Nhuong shared that "Echo" is an old sound that echoes back or towards the same direction. Over time, these legacies will change, the Hue girl is also changing. I do not criticize this change because it is inevitable. Through painting, I want to preserve the heritage and the gracefulness, tenderness, and contemplation full of pride and nobility of ancient Hue.
The painter Le Van Nhuong is known for his abstract style, expressed through his works: Alluvial, My Time, Connection, Convergence, Rain, Sunshine and Wind in the Paracel Islands and many other works participating in domestic and international exhibitions.
Unlike before, this time, the artist chose a realistic style to honestly describe the old images of Hue. Therefore, with this exhibition, viewers can easily empathize and feel Hue in their own way.