TO EACH THEIR OWN SKY
Curator: Do Tuong Linh
Artist: Nguyen Hoa
Duration: December 16, 2023 to January 28, 2024
Inspired by the poignant verses of Han Mac Tu's evocative poem, "The wind follows the wind, the clouds follow the clouds," Nguyen Hoa unveiled his inaugural solo exhibition, a momentous occasion marking his public debut beyond the confines of the familiar art circles. Those privileged to frequent his artistic enclave, Cafe Tụm in Huế, had hitherto experienced the intimate journey of his craft.
Han Mac Tu's verses, akin to a serene, poetic rendering of the Perfume River, delicately weave scenes imbued with profound contemplation. Over the span of nearly three years, Nguyen Hoa meticulously rekindled and refined his artistic creations. Beyond a mere response to space and locale, his works encapsulate the ephemeral essence of time and the ceaseless changes within the intricate tapestry of the human universe.
Trained in Sculpture, Nguyen Hoa embraced painting as an additional medium for expressing his artistic spirit—a medium that serves as both a reflection upon and resistance to time. Each of his compositions, meticulously crafted and deliberately scarce, forms part of a series of reflections, sometimes comprising no more than three pieces. Living in symbiosis with his creations, he returns to them over time, perfecting them through a slow, deliberate dance. The unhurried and painstaking nature of his creative process becomes a self-portrait and a reflective performance, delving into the innermost recesses of his emotions and depths. The lacquer medium he chose aligns seamlessly with the unhurried painting and contemplation inherent in his practice. Throughout the series, ancient architectural details act as a frame—a metaphor laden with poignancy and conflict, unraveling scenes, rituals, routines, and rules not only of history and heritage but also of the very fabric of existence that any artist residing and working in the ancient capital of Hue inevitably carries along.