A solo exhibition
To each their own sky
Artist: Nguyen Hoa | Curator: Do Tuong Linh | Duration: 16/12/2023 - 28/01/2024
Preface
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.
"The wind follows the wind's path, the clouds follow the cloud's path; the wind is framed within the wind, the cloud is lonely within the cloud — there is not a single bond." The verse conjures a profound sense of solitude, where the greater the distance between wind and clouds, the deeper the loneliness and emptiness felt by people. Desiring a return to the homeland village, the traveler seems to encounter numerous obstacles — akin to the wind and clouds born together yet remaining separate, akin to the adversities of life. Indeed, “How could it be cheerful when one was in grief.” (Nguyen Du, The Tale of Kieu, 1813 - 1820)
The wind tenderly caresses the clouds, and the water flows with measured grace. What distinguishes this narrative is that, in times past, the wind swept the clouds away — an inherent intertwining. The wind and clouds do not share the same sky — "the wind follows the wind, and the clouds follow the clouds." The verse, cleaved in twain, begets a sky of parting. Human sorrow, human remorse for parting, has sundered even the seemingly inseparable, severing even those things once paired in harmony. Contemplating the works of Nguyen Hoa, visitors also undergo a mix of emotions — nostalgia, melancholy, solitude and beauty. Yet, through the tiny windows that open to inner worlds, Nguyen Hoa’s luminous and seductive lacquer creates a space of refuge and comfort in the fast-moving world we inhabit.
