VÓC & DÁNG
Exhibition by Bui Quang Thang and Nguyen Vinh Thinh
Opening: 17:00, Wednesday, 24.7.2019

Free entry
Media partner: Hanoi Grapevine

The two painters participating in this exhibition both paint on ‘VOC’ (posture), the wooden canvas used in traditional Vietnamese lacquer. Bui Quang Thang, an experienced painter, specializes in carved lacquer while Nguyen Vinh Thinh, a young artist, chooses lacquer.

The concept of VOC in the art realm may vary: Some people just see it as the surface material of a picture (similar to paper, silk or canvas) whilst some people value it as an inseparable part that constitutes the quality of artworks. Painter Bui Quang Thang, who is in the latter group, said: "To me, VOC must be made as if it’s a perfect lacquer painting and if it is not that good, I don’t want to paint."

In an effort to modernize the lacquer art, many artists have tried to reduce the heaviness of wooden boards by making lacquer without wooden canvas, but there are artists who want to preserve VOC-based painting as a Vietnamese cultural identity.

The Vietnamese have the idiom "posture first, skin next" to talk about the outstanding feminist characteristics of attractive women. The word "POSTURE” (VOC also in Vietnamese) in this exhibition represents that concept: How do artists create or shape women in their paintings to express their aesthetic views?

While Bui Quang Thang stays loyal to traditional slender, shy and discreet postures, Nguyen Vinh Thinh shows a different social and aesthetic view on modern women: He loves hot body. In other words, Bui Quang Thang's paintings encase the romantic love that seems melodiously echo from the old days; and Nguyen Vinh Thinh's paintings evoke rapid rhythms and more fiercely sensual emotions of today's love.

Both artists started with traditional lacquer and wanted to develop it to adapt the new era. They are all not conservative and were willing to change painting materials, to change the way of shaping and drawing to have contemporary feelings breezing in. That is the very contribution of Bui Quang Thang and Nguyen Vinh Thinh for the development of Vietnamese lacquer art.

Hanoi, July 20, 2019
Dr. Bui Quang Thang
Art Director, Vicas Art Studio.