KVT – Carvacious

Carvacious

Special thanks to artist Pham Huy Thong for the photos!

In Hanoi there are two very good artists called Giang. One is Ly Tran Quynh Giang who is famous for her woodcuts from within which the figures seem to be pushing to escape the raw wood. The other is Nguyen Huong Giang who also employs wood cut techniques but her figures seem to be layering their stories onto the wood. Both are feminist artists and the latter employs feminine motifs. I understand that they are friends so the question of appropriation is not an issue. Nguyen Huong Giang has a really lovely, even poignant, exhibition at the Viet Art Center. It’s one of those exhibitions that will have a strong appeal to female viewers and I especially urge women to see it. Already it’s a popular show. I’ve been to see it twice with another viewing on the cards.

Part of the exhibition, including a touching installation, deals with the stillbirth of a child 3 592 days ago. Two 2007 wall pieces are like lullabies of grief and the very moving 2010 Wandering Souls boards sing eloquently.

The remainder of the exhibition is about recovery and love. The pieces are sensuous and sensual. It’s a rendition of love and adoration that few male artists, if any, would be able to cope with.

Click on the images above for a larger version.

Not that all the pieces work and I’d have left a couple out of the show. But overall it comes together beautifully. Some may argue that some pieces are too fussy or too full, but that didn’t worry me too much.

I especially like the elaborately patterned fabric, almost the color of blood, that binds the figures together and is a subtle thematic device.

I could go on and on about the use of wooden boards instead of canvas, the use of red and black as the dominant colors, the sexuality but my interpretations may influence your own translations. For non-Vietnamese it may help to have a local along to decipher labels and statements. For others, just being there will be enough and males will also be seduced!

It closes on Saturday and it’s in Viet Art Center, Yet Kieu.