KVT – Lustre, Lacquer, and Omisicience at Goethe

Lustre. Lacquer, and Omniscience at Goethe

The most amazing thing about entering the front door of the gallery at Goethe is that you see God!

It’s one of the most beautiful representations of God that I’ve ever come across. It’s a grid of mother of pearl on lacquer that positively glistens, glows and sparkles in reflected sun. I’d suggest a sunny early afternoon visit to get “God’ in it’s most scintillating mood. On my first visit of an evening God was lovely but by day light God is divine.

Isn’t it hard to know which gender to ascribe to the deity? I’ve settled for neutrality!

Artist Khai Doan has done some of the nicest stuff I’ve seen done with lacquer since that amazingly brilliant Phi Phi Oanh left our shores.

A lot of really good work has been put on the walls at Goethe….perhaps too much for the eye and mind to reflect on in peace….and my favorite is the large and beautiful triptych of  a simple fish pond toilet with the fish below swirling around for the flavorsome goodies that often fall to them. For the viewer uninitiated in the ways of country folk and their family fish pond feeding programs, the pictures may be a bit off putting….but that’s their problem!

The most amazing thing for me is that the mundane, even the offensive, has been made into an object of quite intense beauty: (lacquer, silver and gold on wood).

The luckiest fish pond fish I’ve ever come across was at a small army compound in the back blocks of Thanh Hoa province where the above water platforms were utilized by a couple of dozen recruits.

My friend fell in love with the triptych opposite that depicts a cityscape at night from a plane or from encircling hills. It’s the first photo-real lacquer landscape I’ve come across ….and it works on a photographic level and as a richly glimmering abstract. (Also in lacquer, silver and gold). Unfortunately my photos don’t do much for the work because my simple camera can’t cope with the light reflecting off the luster. Best to see them for yourself!

We both fell into oohs and ahhs over another triptych of old, tattered clothing that the artist saw displayed at a history museum (lacquer, silver, eggshell and gold on wood). At first glance an attractive organic abstract that slowly morphs into actual tunics. Quite gorgeous really! (Lacquer, silver, eggshell and gold on wood)

On the far end wall are three pieces that are marvellously, religiously iconic and would fit into the pictorial vocabulary of most world religions. The central objects are ugly, turdish like mounds but they have been made into works that shine with a spurious, luminous spirituality. (Again…lacquer, eggshell, gold and silver on wood)

I really love the artist’s whimsical mindset and the way in which he sets out to fool us!

When I came to the works with mother of pearl on deep, dark lacquer on wood I wasn’t as taken in, but anyone fascinated with pixilations will be mightily impressed….but I did really like the small triptych in the foyer whose pixels create a figure that recedes in each work. My silly little camera only allowed one shot here! (Note that I’m blaming the camera –not the photographer.)

The piece that is featured on the cover of the very handsome catalogue is a bit of a play on the paintings of Chinese artist Zhang Xiaogang and also works in its naughtily appropriated way. Delightful!

If you’re lucky when you visit you may find the artist at work on a lacquer that’s been in the production pipeline for about 5 years. Catch him if you can and find out about the elaborate and complex thing that traditional lacquer work is……not the Japanese lacquer you see so much of (which in itself is challenging…but not a tenth so as traditional).

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We wanted to celebrate a good evening’s viewing and vacillated about where to go and dine and with a storm imminent managed to make it to Halia where Rex, the maitre d’, made us welcome and whence comfortably ensconced we ordered two dishes each from the aperitif menu.

The food was as lustrous and appealing as excellently executed lacquers and the presentation and tastes satisfied our senses …but didn’t play games with them as did Doan.

The highlight for me were the truffled snails served on a bed of soft polenta (Phi Phi Oanh would do it proud in a lacquer work) and the wood mushrooms with slivered artichokes on their plate reminded me of the misty lacquer forest scapes by my other favorite lacquerist, Vu Duc Trung.

My friend’s pumpkin soup with its pillow of ravioli swelling like a lush breast in a soft and delicate orange pond, was picture and taste-bud perfect. The grilled prawns on ginger-infused, glass noodle salad were almost spiritual in the mouth.

Recommended!

A mighty thanks to Goethe for a show that made me laugh, think and enjoy and that led me to food that made my gastronomic soul replete.