KVT visits Salon Natasha

When Vu Dan Tan has an exhibition of his latest work just about anyone who has an interest in art should make sure they see it.

Luxury at Salon Natasha in Hang Bong is a showing of his self portraits and portraits of, I assume, his interior muse. Mr Vu Dan Tan in his introduction to his exhibition says to read his poem Self Pride then look at his self portraits and you will understand the reason why he calls them Self Proud portraits. I’ve done both and with apologies to the artist, here’s how I enjoyed reading them.

He displays his Napoleonic complex, and the Chaplinesque side of his personality. He shows us the poseur and sycophant in the Dumb Luck self portrait and does the title Tan Dan refer to the man who courts money, fame and notoriety. The muse looks on enigmatically and says but is this really you? Under these masks are you someone else, someone no one really knows? Before it is too late, know yourself.

Does Luxury in the exhibition title refer to the luxury of introspection? All self portraits give artists the opportunity to take off the veils of pride and prejudice and, if they’re decent artists and philosophers, give the viewer a glimpse into their dark soul and the complexity of their interior self dialogues. Some famous artists have painted themselves completely naked saying you can accept me as I am or perhaps suggesting they have nothing to hide except the secrets behind the scales over their eyes . Tan presents some of the mirror images he recognizes in himself and perhaps asks us to dare to hold a dialogue with him about our perceptions.

My favorite piece has to be the paper construction of the Napoleonic complex but that’s only because I’m still too much in love with what I call his origami angels from years’ past. All of his Napoleonic canvasses are standouts.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Vu Dan Tan is one of Vietnam’s most exciting artists and at 63 is still proving himself. I am waiting for a comprehensive retrospective of his work. It will be HUGE.

Whatever the ethos or philosophy that goes with the artist’s decision to exhibit children’s self portrait work alongside his own, it left me a bit cold but eccentricity is of course another of his self proud cloaks… and I have to deal with my own prejudices.

FAR TOO GOOD TO MISS and worth owning.