The anticipation for each art exhibition hosted by the Club of Elder Artists among art enthusiasts and collectors is real. Some artists in the exhibition have gained recognition, making their names familiar and their artistic paths distinguished, thus receiving more appreciation.
Familiar names among art enthusiasts such as Nguyễn Minh Mỹ, Hà Cắm Dì, Chu Thị Thánh, Trần Huy Oánh, Phạm Thị Nguyệt Nga, Lê Tuyết, Lê Kim Mỹ, Phùng Phẩm, Nguyễn Bằng Lâm, Nguyễn Mai San,… have contributed significantly to the exhibition’s professional quality. The exhibition includes 71 artists aged 60 and above. Particularly notable is female artist Minh Mỹ, born in 1923, who at nearly 100 years old still participates with her artworks. Featuring 91 pieces across lacquer, oil, silk, paper, and some small sculptures, the two floors of the 16 Ngô Quyền Art Exhibition House have become captivating due to their visual diversity and richness.
The elderly artists eagerly awaited this exhibition after a long break from outside activities. Thanks to this peaceful period of distancing, elderly artists have focused on creating beautiful and emotionally rich paintings. Many of these artists have lived through difficult war years and times when the country was impoverished, making today’s relaxed artistic creation a gentle and serene feeling. While some artworks were created previously, most are new pieces. This ease in their souls, combined with the “rejuvenation of spirit” in old age, has ignited many artworks with fresh and vibrant colors. This is understandable as old age often prefers simplicity, emotional indulgence, less contemplation, and ease in everything. However, female artists have a distinct, gentle charm. Artists like Chu Thị Thánh, Lê Tuyết, Minh Mỹ, Kim Mỹ, Trương Ngọc Hiên… portray everyday stories with images of young girls and simple, gentle, heartfelt, and emotional landscapes. Artists like Bằng Lâm, Phùng Phẩm, Trần Đốc, Ngô Bình Thiểm, Nguyễn Đình An depict youthful vibrancy, strong lines in their compositions. Huy Oánh still depicts scenes of labor on construction sites and factories, a theme he loves. Nguyễn Văn Chiến sends a single painting to the art room depicting beloved leader Hồ Chí Minh during his time at K9, yet still romantic…
Artists of all ages, primarily focusing on people, landscapes, labor, and social activities in their paintings. Some paintings depict portraits of leaders, production labor during the pandemic, topics that elderly artists also care about. Viewing the paintings of elderly artists reveals pain, emotional turmoil, concerns of the times, personal feelings of love and hatred are no longer worries. They are joyful, calm, enjoy simple life, and think lightly… thus their artworks remain pleasant. Art has its own unique ways of expression, different levels, thoughts, and different ages in individual creations.
According to tradition, the Vietnamese Fine Arts Association annually organizes an exhibition named “Dấu ấn 2021” exclusively for elderly artists. This is one of the annual exhibitions showcasing artworks by members of the Vietnamese Fine Arts Association from different ages, various specialized clubs such as: “Club of Patriotic Construction Theme Creations”; “Elderly People’s Club”; “Young Artists’ Club”…
In June and July 2021, the exhibition “What Are We Playing With?” by young artists from the Young Artists’ Club was exhibited at VCCA, Royal City with hundreds of diverse artworks in themes, colors, and materials. The youth view the times and artistic methods differently. Elderly people have their own perspective. The satisfaction in emotions, determination in the artwork of young creators has advantages. However, art creators have a deep emotional consistency, recreating the times in a relaxed, much simpler, but still elegant manner.
This is life, this is art…
Hoàng Anh
Here are some artworks displayed in the exhibition:
– CHU THỊ THÁNH – Spring Rain. 2021. Powder paint. 58x77cm
– CAO TRỌNG THIỀM – New Village with Bridge. 2021. Woodcut. 54x47cm
– PHẠM THỊ NGUYỆT NGA – Landscape of Hà Giang. 2021. Oil on canvas. 100x140cm
– NGUYỄN VĂN CHIẾN – Uncle Chooses “Chông Stone” for K9. 2020. Oil on canvas. 80x100cm
– NGUYỄN BẰNG LÂM – Sunshine of the Sea. 2021. Mixed media. 130x130cm
– NGUYỄN TIẾN CẢNH – Circle of Life. 2021
– HÀ CẮM DÌ – The Happy House. 2021. Acrylic. 65x90cm
– NGÔ BỈNH THIỂM – Going to the Highland Market. Oil on canvas. 60x85cm
– NGUYỄN MINH MỸ – Mai Châu Landscape 2019. Silk. 60x90cm
– TRẦN ĐỐC – Surrealism 7. Oil on canvas. 100x100cm
– PHÙNG PHẨM – Young Girl. 2020. Paper sculpture. 65x41cm
– TRƯƠNG NGỌC HIÊN – Banana Garden. Rice paper. 50x65cm
– TRẦN HUY OÁNH – Construction Site. Oil on canvas. 39x54cm
– NGUYỄN LÊ TUYẾT – Red Phoenix Flowers. Silk. 60x80cm
– LÊ KIM MỸ – Boat on the Đà River. Watercolor. 30x40cm
Also, there are some small sculptures by sculptors Ngô Doãn Kinh and Hoàng Uyên.
