Solo exhibition shows artist’s freedom

This painting is one of the latest works by artist Tô Hiến Chiến. – VnExpress News Photos Nguyễn Bình 

HÀ NỘI — Artist Tô Hiến Chiến is showcasing his latest solo paintings at an exhibition at Art Space in Hà Nội. 

The exhibition, entitled Tìm Về (I Find Myself), displays 30 paintings made over the past five years by Chiến. It is his third solo exhibition, following previous exhibitions in 1998 and 2000.

The acrylic paintings of different sizes feature his inner feelings, which he has sought for a long time. 

“It is difficult for an artist to express his point of view,” said artist Trần Lưu Kỳ. 

“In the past, he had not found the path in his career. After the two solo exhibitions which made impression on his circle, he suddenly stopped drawing due to different reasons. He spent time experiencing life and art which helps him to find himself and express himself in art.

“The exhibition makes me think about Buddhism philosophy. I Find Myself is an indispensable way to find the path of Chiến. The paintings in this exhibition show his truthfulness, freedom and even bewilderment. To him, art is religion and the most important is practice without principle or theory.”

The paintings are abstract, drawn with free and scribble strokes. The largest painting is sized 120cm by 130cm. It shows his feelings about space and light. The painting is his worldly illusion. 

The exhibition visitors will be impressed by another painting from 2020. The painting is only a white background with a few black strokes expressing a white space, according to Chiến. 

“I draw a lot and I also delete a lot,” Chiến said. 

“I used to find it difficult to express emotions inside. The paintings in this exhibition are the repressed emotions that I had kept bottled up for a long time.”

Chiến graduated from Hà Nội University of Industrial Fine Arts and Hà Nội Academy of Theatre and Cinema. He is a member of G39, a group of Hanoian artists who gather to honour traditional values, as well as to bring art closer to the public. 

He has group exhibitions in Việt Nam and abroad including Laos, Italy and Singapore. 

I Find Myself exhibition is held at Art Space, 42 Yết Kiêu Street, Hà Nội until May 8. — – VnExpress News

Tô Hiến Chiến’s strokes express his freedom and truthfulness.