Returning to 'Land of Memories' through lacquer paintings by artist Nguyen Minh Hai

Sunset over mossy structures, a lotus pond with a few flowers still blooming at the end of summer, a peaceful village corner with haystacks, a flock of chickens… these are the thoughtful scenes that artist Nguyen Minh Hai brought to the lacquer exhibition “Memory Land” opening on October 24 in Hanoi .

After nearly 20 years of artistic activities with dozens of group exhibitions, this is the first time he has had a solo exhibition - both a milestone in his career and the time when the artist is at his "mature" age.

In the space of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the exhibition “Memory Land” opens a door leading viewers into the artist’s deep subconscious, where traditions and personal emotions converge between classical materials and modern thinking.

Artist Nguyen Minh Hai's work in the exhibition "Land of Memory."

Artist Nguyen Minh Hai has ventured into oil paint, acrylic, silk, and Do paper, but for the past 5 years, he has remained loyal to lacquer - a traditional painting material that requires patience, meticulousness, and a deep aesthetic sense.

“Lacquer is not only a means of expression but also an expressive artistic language. The layers of muted colors and smooth, flat surfaces create visual depth and emotion,” the artist said.

Sharing with reporters of VietnamPlus Electronic Newspaper, the artist said that the space “Memory Land” recreates cultural fragments, familiar images of the countryside, of nature, of lotus, of corners of Hanoi, all transformed through the inner prism of the artist. Each work is a slice of time, a moment preserved by light, color, by lipstick, by gold, by silver, reminding viewers of things that seem to have been forgotten.

The artist especially loves lotus flowers. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Among them, lotus is the subject that the artist paints the most. He loves the beauty of lotus because the “Buddhism” of this flower makes people feel calm and more kind.

“I have been to many lotus ponds, spent many hours admiring and drawing lotus flowers. The life cycle of the lotus is like the life cycle of a human being or the rotation of the universe, blooming and fading. Each blooming flower has a different color and shape, creating endless inspiration for creativity,” the artist shared.

With the same mindset, Nguyen Minh Hai is most "sensitive" to sunset - the transition between day and night, evoking many emotions and thoughts about the endless loop of time.

Looking at the painting series “Memory Land,” sculptor Ha Huy Hiep has the clearest feeling that Nguyen Minh Hai turned to the memory land to mature, not to return to the impulsiveness and wandering of a certain time. He believes that in Nguyen Minh Hai’s paintings there is the Zen nature of Buddhism.

“Viewers are not surprised by Nguyen Minh Hai’s subject matter, but are surprised that a calm person can have such a strong influence in his writing style. Watching each work in ‘Memory Land’ is like practicing a deep meditation session. Still in the old body but moving in the open mind. That is the abundant source of cosmic energy,” said Mr. Ha Huy Hiep.

The exhibition lasts until October 30 at the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tim-ve-mien-ky-uc-qua-bo-tranh-son-mai-cua-hoa-sy-nguyen-minh-hai-post1071586.vnp