Exhibition “Metamorphosis 241″
10 am – 06:30 pm, 07 – 31 Dec 2024
Hanoi Studio Gallery
23-25 Mạc Đĩnh Chi, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
From the organizer:
Hanoi Studio Gallery is delighted to present to art enthusiasts the exhibition “Hóa Thân 241” by artist Nguyễn Ngọc Lâm
Tree and human, emerging from the vast silence, stretching toward existence. Together, they sprout, breathe, cycle, and wither through the four seasons of life, drifting as fragments in the stream of time. The consciousness of humankind intertwines with nature, enveloping and dissolving into one another. Yet, they grapple for the center stage – a timeless struggle etched into the very fabric of existence. What unfolds when this conflict, this relentless encroachment, reaches its peak? They transform, evolving into a new shape, a different essence.
‘Symbols of Existence’
Tree and human, polar opposites yet deeply intertwined, form the twin pillars of the spiral called existence. Each tree, more than just a being of nature, stands as a testament to patience and silent transformation beyond human control. Meanwhile, humanity, driven by self-awareness, embarks on material quests to uncover its identity. Trees, in quiet contrast, face the tide of time with serene endurance, stretching into the world without needing explanation.
Bound by an unseen thread, these two entities anchor a timeless continuum – a meeting point of past and present, where birth and decay eternally embrace.
‘The Void and the Unseen’
“From the void,” the moment arises where all begins, undefined and formless – a liminal space between absence and potential. Trees and humans emerge from this emptiness, springing forth from unconscious realms beyond prediction. They carve their way into reality, like the first strokes on a blank canvas. There are no sharp boundaries, no clear divisions, only an unending stream of creation. Within this flow, trees and humans etch their presence, each holding both emptiness and fullness, division and unity.
‘Conflict and Dissolution’
The idea of “conflict and encroachment” carries a profound weight. It is not merely a clash of the physical but an inner war within the awareness of being. Tree and human wrestle for primacy – not for dominance or material gain but to assert their truths, their irreplaceable presence within the cosmos. Yet through this clash, a dissolution occurs. When the struggle reaches its zenith, tree and human no longer remain distinct. Their essences merge. This is not annihilation but transformation – a seamless evolution into something more profound. It is a symphony of unity born from discord.
‘Evolution and Transfiguration’
“Evolution” transcends physical form, stretching across time, perception, and the essence of existence. When conflict is pushed to its extreme, it ceases to be mere opposition, morphing instead into metamorphosis. Tree and human, driving one another to the brink, spark not only surface change but a redefinition of existence itself. Old forms and consciousness dissolve, yielding to a new entity, unshackled by prior limitations of body or mind.
This is a call to awaken – a shift to a state where humanity no longer conquers nature but integrates into it, becoming an indelible part of the cosmic rhythm. In this way, there is no ending, only the perpetuity of becoming.
Within the Artist’s Reflection, Nguyễn Ngọc Lâm delves into the soul of wood, seeking the link between nature’s infinite expanse and humanity’s finite will. In this interplay, he finds shadows of himself – reflected through these cycles, the boundaries blur, and a higher truth emerges: all things are in flux, yet all things remain whole.
The clash and dissolution,
The decay and rebirth,
The stillness and motion,
The confrontation and evolution.
