IN CONVERSATION: NGUYEN DUONG

Nguyễn Dương illustrated by Maria Chen

DATE

2024/08/01

ARTICLE

Maria Chen

PHOTOS

Courtesy of Mai Gallery

A Conversation with Nguyễn Dương: Unveiling the Spirits of Tĩnh Gia

Vietnamese artist Nguyễn Dương, hailing from Tĩnh Gia, captures the essence of his hometown's estuary through an abstract lens, seeking to unveil the spirits within all things. Eschewing the constraints of figurative art, he embraces abstraction to retain the purity of emotions and spiritual values. Over his nearly 20-year career, Dương has transitioned from expressionism to lyrical abstraction, allowing his works to flow effortlessly and capture intangible phenomena. His creative process is marked by rapid execution and a deep connection to nature.

CNTRFLD.ART catches up with Nguyễn Dương to delve into his background, artistic philosophy, and views on the broader Vietnamese and Asian contemporary arts landscape, providing insight into his ongoing and future artistic endeavours as well as the influences that have shaped his work.

CNTRFLD. Can you share with us your early experiences and upbringing in Tĩnh Gia, and how they have influenced your journey into contemporary arts? How did your early environment and upbringing shape your interest in the arts and your eventual pursuit of a career as an artist?

ND. I do not try to create any regional environment to shape emotions and shape paintings, but it does guide me and my emotions through changes in space and time.

CNTRFLD. Your work is known for its dedication to the image of the estuary in your hometown. What personal significance does this imagery hold for you, and how does it inform your artistic expression?

ND. Observational images are just an excuse for me to convey messages from nature to humans and from humans to nature through the invisible signals that I feel around me to express my works and shape my own artistic opinions.

CNTRFLD. Where are you currently based, and what factors influenced your decision to establish your studio there? How does your current location impact your work and creativity, and are there specific aspects of the local environment that inspire your art?

ND. Hanoi is where I live and work, my studio is located near the Red River and Duong River, it is quite similar to where I grew up, a place full of changing sounds of space.

CNTRFLD. Who are some of the key influences, including artists, that have significantly impacted your work and artistic development? Can you talk about how these influences have shaped specific aspects of your artistic style or thematic focus?

ND. I cannot specify how I get influence from other artists, but I like artists who always try to explore and thoroughly show their emotions in their paintings.

CNTRFLD. You have chosen abstract language to capture the spirits of things. Can you elaborate on why you find abstraction more effective than figurative art in conveying your vision? You've mentioned that abstraction allows for a combination of different spaces and structures. How does this freedom impact the way you approach new projects and compositions?

ND. Abstract art is not letting go but filtering emotions through visual perception. It helps me find the essence within phenomena rather than imitating the external image of vision.

CNTRFLD. In your creative process, you focus on the momentary emotions and spiritual values at the time of creation. How do you achieve and maintain this emotional purity in your work?

ND. The momentary emotion, what the heart feels is only 30%, the rest is having the mind and rationale to express that emotion. Maintaining emotion is the core to rationale.

CNTRFLD. Your work often explores the depth, space, and rhythm through collisions between colours and materials. Can you describe your approach to creating these elements in your paintings?

ND. Artworks represent the spatial perception of the artist.

CNTRFLD. As a Vietnamese contemporary artist with nearly 20 years of experience, how do you see the evolution of abstract and expressionist art in Vietnam?

ND. In recent years, the development of abstract art in Vietnam has made significant progress thanks to artists who are constantly exploring and deepening their approaches to art. Audiences are also more open-minded and eager to learn.

CNTRFLD. What are your thoughts on the representation and influence of women artists in the Vietnamese contemporary arts landscape?

ND. I do not pay much attention to whether the artist is a man or a woman, I only care about the artistic development of the artist. There have been many contributions from female artists, and I appreciate that.

CNTRFLD. How do you think Vietnamese contemporary artists, including yourself, are influencing the arts landscape in Asia and beyond?

ND. Asian art has been developing and gradually forming contrasts with worldwide art thanks to the contributions of high-quality works in recent years.

CNTRFLD. What current projects or artworks are you working on, and what can your audience look forward to soon? Are there any forthcoming exhibitions or events where your work will be displayed? Could you share some details about these upcoming showcases?

ND. I am working on some personal projects for the next few years, and this process has been developed from the solo exhibition MẶC KHẢI in 2019.

A Conversation with Nguyễn Dương: Unveiling the Spirits of Tĩnh Gia

More to Read

IN FOCUS: ANNIE WANG

IN CONVERSATION: WILLY TAY

IN CONVERSATION: CHIU CHEN-HUNG