Veteran artist’s works go on display in Hà Nội

Ca Trù Hà Nội (Hà Nội Ceremonial Singing) by Nguyễn Đại Giang. Photo courtesy of the artist

HÀ NỘI – An exhibition by veteran artist Nguyễn Đại Giang will surprise art lovers with unique paintings at the Việt Nam Museum of Fine Arts.

The exhibition, entitled Dân Tộc – Hiện Đại Là Cội Nguồn Của Nghệ Thuật Đảo Ngược (Ethnic – Modern is he Source of Reverse Art – Upsidedownism) displays some 30 oil-on-canvas and acrylic paintings. 

Upsidedownism is when the artist builds a face out of proportion physically, yet exactly right emotionally.

Giang has distinguished himself by creating and developing a new school of art known as the Upside-Down-Art.

Born in 1944 in Hà Nội, he began painting at the age of seven. After graduation from the first generation of the Industrial Fine Art College, he got a Bachelor of Arts at Moscow College of Arts.

Later on in his career, he migrated to the US where he studied graphics at the University of Washington in Seattle.

“Through the exhibition, I want to bring into the art of painting a completely new way of seeing,” said Giang.

“To give viewers a sense of the art that is full of breakthroughs but with profound philosophical thoughts the tolerance and harmony of Việt Nam.

“Upsidedownism is not strange but comes from the images created by our ancestors thousands of years ago. Modern art is the successor and continuation of that creativity,” he said.

Almost the paintings are bright and in harmony to highlight the beauty of art and the positive outlook on life of Vietnamese.

Giang has solo exhbitions in Hà Nội, HCM City, Đà Nẵng and Huế City.

At this exhibition, he debuts the seven latest paintings which he completes this year including Ca Trù Hà Nội (Hà Nội Ceremonial Singing); Gia Đình (Family); Pablo Picasso and Long Biên Bridge.

Pablo Picasso is one of seven paintings artist Giang completed this year. – Photo courtesy of the artist

The exhibition visitors have a chance to see award-winning paintings Những Nữ Tu Đồng Trinh (Virgin Nuns); Điệu Nhảy (Dance) and Nơi Sinh (Upsidedownism).

His paintings have been exhibited in the Annual Washington State Juried Art Competition; Art Addiction, Medial Art Biennial 3 – London; and Exhibition at Amsterdam Whitney International Fine Art, in New York.

He has won the third prize at the International Art Contest in Spain and the Best Contemporary Art CD ROM – The Juried Collection 1996 in New York.

His paintings are in collections at the Museum of Art Voronezh Russia, Museum of Seattle and private collections in Việt Nam, US, Japan, Canada, Belgium and others.

The exhibition runs until May 31 at 66 Nguyễn Thái Học Street. VNS