The exhibition collectively presents their personal experiences of the world through paintings that range from domestic interiors to dream-like landscapes.nguyen art gallery.
Brought together for the first time, the artists employ a diverse range of styles and techniques, come from both urban and rural areas, and represent different generations and varied cultural backgrounds.
Visitors will be surprised to see Untitled 2002, one of two works by Elizabeth Newman, one made from colourful wool and cotton cloth. Her other is centred around a white-washed ceramic pot.
The paintings by aboriginal artists take on a tone of romantic naturalism marked by a blazing use of colour. Looking at Elizabeth by James Orrison, viewers will feel as if lost in a wonderland, and can experience the four seasons in his Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Aboriginal artist Boxer Milner Tjampitjin’s homeland is along a branch of the Purkitji River in the north of the Balgo region. His Purkitji represents the river using a style based on intricate geometric structure. Meanwhile, Nancy Naninurra’s Untitled 2004 is filled with the poignant feeling of her last glimpse at the streams of the Minna Minna area, because at the time she made painting she was going blind.
Artists Amanda Davies, Diena Georgetti, Gordon Bennett, Raafat Ishak, James Morrison use numerous materials, including ceramic, plastic and fabric as well as enamel on plastic and on canvas, and polymer paint on canvas. Recognising diversity, The World in Painting celebrates the freshness artists bring to their media.
The World in Painting is curated by Zara Stanhope, senior curatorial deputy director at the Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne. At the opening of the exhibition, Australian Ambassador Bill Twedell said, “Painting is one of the oldest devices used for artistic expression, yet in contemporary times we find that painting maintains its status as one of the favoured forms of expression – both for artists and art lovers. The Australian Embassy is honoured to be able to bring this exhibition to Vietnamese audiences in Ha Noi. More than that, we are proud be part of the concept that will allow Vietnamese artists to contribute works to this exhibition, which will be displayed next in Australia, and also to undertake an ‘artist’s residency’ in Melbourne for one month”.
Before coming to Ha Noi, the exhibition travelled to Chiang Mai and Bangkok in Thailand and Manila in the Philippines. After showing at the Fine Arts Museum in Ha Noi, the exhibition will return to Australia to be exhibited at the Heide Museum of Modern Art, in Melbourne.
The exhibition will run untill April 17 at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ha Noi. — VNS
