With a harmonious combination of colours, both modern and imbued with Eastern culture, the set of paintings entitled “The Life of Mannequins” by artist Nguyen Khac Chinh brought to viewers a unique, interesting perspective on life and humans in a contemporary art space.
Nguyen Khac Chinh graduated from the Hanoi University of Fine Arts in 2006, and is a highly skilled artist in oil painting thanks to his participation in group exhibitions since he was a student. During his years of studying and taking part in art exhibitions of different forms, such as installation, performance, video art, oil painting and lacquer painting, he accumulated a thorough knowledge and experience of art. His earnestness for working was reflected clearly in his exhibition, “The Life of Mannequins”.
The set of paintings showed many individual narratives and the desire and ambition of the artist for creating idiosyncrasy through unique pieces of art.
The paintings were divided into small themes, such as “Seeking A Real Face” and “Chit Chat”. However, viewers seemed to perceive a message that the artist wanted to convey in every painting - the loneliness in modern life. It appears to make humans seem emotionless like mannequins. Therefore, most of the figures in his paintings have soulless and glacial faces like a mannequin’s which are highlighted by muted colour tones and the traditional Ao dai.
Nguyen Khac Chinh’s paintings fascinate viewers by giving feelings of surrealism, triggering them to ask if there were times they ever lived and behaved like a mannequin.
Sharing his perception of “The Life of Mannequins”, the artist said: “I nurtured the idea of creating this set of paintings for two years after I was inspired by the image of a real human-like mannequin in a fashion shop in Hanoi. At that time, I wondered if there was any relationship between real people and mannequins”.
The set of paintings showed many individual narratives and the desire and ambition of the artist for creating idiosyncrasy through unique pieces of art.
The paintings were divided into small themes, such as “Seeking A Real Face” and “Chit Chat”. However, viewers seemed to perceive a message that the artist wanted to convey in every painting - the loneliness in modern life. It appears to make humans seem emotionless like mannequins. Therefore, most of the figures in his paintings have soulless and glacial faces like a mannequin’s which are highlighted by muted colour tones and the traditional Ao dai.
Nguyen Khac Chinh’s paintings fascinate viewers by giving feelings of surrealism, triggering them to ask if there were times they ever lived and behaved like a mannequin.
Sharing his perception of “The Life of Mannequins”, the artist said: “I nurtured the idea of creating this set of paintings for two years after I was inspired by the image of a real human-like mannequin in a fashion shop in Hanoi. At that time, I wondered if there was any relationship between real people and mannequins”.
 Painter Nguyen Khac Chinh. Photo : Tat Son/VNP  The exhibition “The life of Mannequins” attracts the attention of arts lovers. Photo: Tat Son/VNP  “Zen.” Photo: Tat Son/VNP  “Chit Chat 2”. Photo : Tat Son/VNP  “Man and Lotus”. Photo: Tat Son/VNP  “Seeking a Real Face 1”. Photo: Tat Son/VNP  “Duet.” Photo: Tat Son/VNP  “Seeking a Real Face 3”. Photo: Tat Son/VNP  “The life of Mannequins 2”. Photo: Tat Son/VNP |
Story: Ngan Ha
Photos: Tat Son
Photos: Tat Son
