Artist duo exhibits sublime Delta scenes
(01-07-2009)
by Vo Le Hong
Same place:
Flamboyant Season by Dang Can
HCM CITY — Two Vinh Long natives born within a year of each other used different mediums to capture moments of vivid beauty in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta at an exhibition that opened in the city yesterday.
“A Moment of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta” displays 41 works of art – 25 oil paintings by Dang Can and 16 paper collages by Chieu Dong – at the Phuong Mai Gallery
“This exhibition is very interesting. You can see the similarities and differences between two artists of almost the same age [Dang Can was born 1957 and Chieu Dong in 1956] from the same area,” said one visitor.
It is the second time the two artists have held a joint-exhibition. Both have many paintings in private collections all over the world. Their exhibitions in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and HCMCity have been successful, with many works winning prizes and acclaim from critics and viewers.
It is difficult to remain nonchalant while looking at the duo’s works, as they focus on the subliminal aspects of daily life in the lower section of the MekongRiver.
Chieu Dong’s main skill is collage art. With coloured paper and magazine covers that he tears up and sticks on the canvas, he conjures up the striking beauty of daily life scenes: Girls on their way to school, fishermen taking a break in their boats, a man with his cyclo on the last day of the year and dawn on the MekongRiver .
Dang Can, who showed an aptitude for drawing and painting very early on in his life, commenced his art work in 1976 as an illustrator for local newspapers and magazines.
A member of Viet Nam Fine Arts Association, Can brings a soft quality to his works as he captures the peaceful atmosphere that pervades many areas of the delta. His paintings are at once realistic and dreamlike.
“It is the impact of surrounding life, including things we can see and feel, that inspire my paintings. That’s why I do not need any consultants. I always find new styles and new ideas,” Dang Can said
In addition to painting, Can is also a music composer and designer of ceramic objects. He used to work part time for the Art Ceramic Workshop in Vinh Long.
A Moment of Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta will remain open at the PhuongMaiArtGallery, on 129B Le Thanh Ton, District 1, HCMCity until next Tuesday. More images of their works can be found at: www.vietnamart.com.vn. — VNS
