With themes spanning from traditional to modern, the ‘Loong Koong’ ceramic exhibition was introduced to a large number of people with nearly 50 ceramic works by two artists Trinh Vu Hieu and Bui Quoc Khanh at the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (Hanoi).
According to researcher Phan Cam Thuong, ceramics is an ancient and traditional material that has spread widely throughout human civilizations. In recent years, the debate between art and craft, between high art and low art has created variations for contemporary ceramic art.
‘Loong Koong’ originated from a meeting by chance between the two artists Trinh Vu Hieu and Bui Quoc Khanh. ‘Loong Koong’ is the sound of pieces of pottery colliding with each other, a meeting between two innovative artists. Bui Quoc Khanh, first approached pottery as a learner and experimenter. With his accumulated experience and knowledge, Trinh Vu Hieu has been both an archiver and a storyteller. That was expressed and symbolized in the Loong and Koong sections of the exhibition as a metaphor for the transition of traditional art to contemporary art.
Researcher Phan Cam Thuong speaks at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
Artist Trinh Vu Hieu wishes to convey Vietnamese historical stories by different means.
Artist Bui Quoc Khanh has created contemporary characters from ceramic.
Ceramic works are more beautiful thanks to the exhibition's lighting system.
The exhibition space is carefully arranged to make the works stand out.
The exhibition attracted numerous visitors.
|
The two artists’ strong love and passion for folk and traditional materials were probably what connected their works. Traditional values were expressed richly and diversely in the 50 works being exhibited.
Trinh Vu Hieu was loyal to the motifs of ceramic vases inspired by Hang Trong paintings. His ceramics told stories of the gods in spiritual live of people from ancient times. The familiarity in storytelling helped to remove the barrier of space. Each traditional painting was shown on sustainable ceramic material, creating different visual effects, giving interesting and engaging experiences to viewers.
The impressive feature of Bui Quoc Khanh's ceramic works was the meticulousness with countless details divided into successive layers. Elements of shapes and colors were completely different but still imbued with a Vietnamese identity.
The ceramic exhibition ‘Loong Koong’ by Trinh Vu Hieu and Bui Quoc Khanh reflected on the contemporary cultural and social context of Vietnam - where old values and new values have slowly been co-existing./.
Artworks at the exhibition: