Inspired by the music “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” by the great Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943), Vu Hiep turned the book into a piece of music in words: containing philosophical thoughts, resonating personal feelings, and opening up a new approach to art research.

In the history of music , Rachmaninov is often seen as a “conservative” artist, standing on the sidelines of avant-garde movements. But in 2020, a Korean research team announced: Rachmaninov was the most innovative composer, based on algorithms for analyzing melody and harmony. Rachmaninov innovated not by breaking, but by exploiting new possibilities from familiar tools. “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” is a typical example: A familiar melody is transformed through 24 variations, each variation both retaining the spirit of Paganini and opening up a new space.

Cover of the book "Echoes of the Image".

Vu Hiep calls it “creativity from heritage”, and at the same time introduces interesting aesthetic concepts: “Co-existence” between old and new; “Transition” through time and space; “Imperfection” as an aesthetic principle – the incompleteness of beauty at a time; “Deconstruction” to rearrange existing knowledge; and even “Reverse” – overturning the old to create new beauty...

Researching Vietnamese culture, Vu Hiep also found similar echoes, such as the folk song: “The wind blows the bamboo branches / The sound of Tran Vu bell, Tho Xuong chicken crow / The misty smoke spreads over thousands of mists / The rhythm of Yen Thai pestle reflects the mirror of West Lake”. He wrote: “Vietnamese people’s perception of architecture is strongly influenced by the connection between form and sound. Architecture must have sound to indicate location, to feel the place”.

Also in the element of “Place”, the author recognizes the charming beauty of cities with deep history and memories - something that many people have overlooked, hastily destroying architectural heritages. That is the creativity from heritage: Not denying the past, nor being imprisoned by it, but transforming it into a new identity.

At the end of the book, Vu Hiep makes an important point: Creativity does not always mean breaking away or breaking away. With “Echoes of Image”, he shows that there is another way – listening and dialogue with heritage.

The perspective of “creating from heritage” that the author of the book emphasizes has great power to inspire artists today. It affirms that innovation does not only come from destruction but also from the ability to empathize with the past, exploiting old values ​​to bring out new voices. Thanks to that, heritage is no longer a static block but becomes a source of living energy, always revived in each layer of contemporary creativity.

With “Echoes of the Shape”, Vu Hiep not only talks with Rachmaninov’s music but also opens up a broader perspective for readers: Art today, whether in Vietnam or anywhere else, can find creative resources in the echoes of memories. The book is therefore not only an artistic study but also an invitation to embark on a journey where music, architecture, painting... and heritage meet, so that each person can listen to the echoes of the past in their soul and realize: Creativity, after all, always starts from there.

TRANG HOANG MY

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/sach/su-sang-tao-tren-nen-di-san-846205