Experience ‘Like Layers of Alluvium’ at VCCA Hanoi, featuring the mesmerizing lacquer art of Tuan Tran & Cong Kim Hoa. Explore rich textures, deep colors, and layered meanings in this stunning showcase of Vietnamese lacquer painting.
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A Bridge Between Past and Present
In “Like Layers of Alluvium,” lacquer is not merely a technique—it is a living, breathing language, carrying the weight of history while embracing contemporary artistic sensibilities. Through this exhibition, Trinh Tuan and Cong Kim Hoa reaffirm lacquer’s relevance in modern art, demonstrating how an ancient medium can continue to evolve, captivate, and inspire.
The exhibition is an immersive exploration of lacquer as both a material and a metaphor, reflecting Vietnam’s rich artistic heritage and its evolution over time. The concept of alluvium, referring to the sediment deposited by rivers, serves as a poetic analogy for the way layers of lacquer accumulate in these works, mirroring the passage of history, memory, and cultural continuity.
Tuan’s and Hoa’s Artistic Vision
Their approach to lacquer is a harmonious balance between tradition and innovation. While rooted in Vietnamese lacquer painting traditions, his work moves beyond the confines of realism, embracing abstraction and contemporary experimentation. The artists’ signature technique involves layering, scratching, rubbing, and pressing, revealing hidden depths within each composition. These processes expose traces of previous layers, much like how memories resurface through time.
Their paintings exude a tactile richness, their surfaces both intricate and organic. Through the interplay of deep reds, earthy browns, golds, and luminous blues, their works evoke landscapes, fleeting moments, and spiritual introspection. Abstract patterns and fragmented forms suggest a dialogue between the seen and the unseen, permanence and impermanence.
The Exhibition Experience
The exhibition space at VCCA is carefully curated to enhance the interplay of light, texture, and reflection—key elements in lacquer art. The minimalist setting, with dim lighting and white walls, directs focus onto the paintings, allowing their shifting luminosity and delicate details to take center stage.
Visitors are invited into a meditative experience, where each artwork demands close examination and slow appreciation. The polished yet layered textures of lacquer shift depending on the angle of view and the intensity of light, reinforcing the theme of constant transformation and layered meaning. The exhibition’s arrangement encourages viewers to experience a journey through time and materiality, much like the gradual accumulation of alluvial layers shaping the land.
Visit the Exhibition
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the depth, texture, and luminosity of lacquer art like never before. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a collector, or simply someone who appreciates beauty and craftsmanship, this exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the rich heritage of Vietnamese lacquer painting.
📅 Exhibition Dates: February 14, 2024 – April 15, 2024
📍 Venue: VCCA (Vincom Center for Contemporary Art), B1-R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyễn Trãi, Thanh Xuân, Hanoi, Vietnam
Admission is free. Come and immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of lacquer art!
