“Interference in Le Van Son’s paintings”
Working in art in Germany, artist Le Van Son seeks to “return home” in each work, returning to his roots to find his own place, creating unique features that conquer art lovers.
One month ago, at Gartner Hous-Bonn, Germany, a solo exhibition by artist Le Van Son took place with the theme “Wind and Water”. This is his second solo exhibition in Europe. Previously, Le Van Son participated in more than 10 group art exhibitions at home and abroad.
Wind and water philosophy
Dr. Holger Nielen – Religious Studies researcher, University of Bonn, Germany, evaluated the works in “Wind and Water” by artist Le Van Son as follows: If looking at these works, viewers can It feels like layers of space, clouds… How can people think these paintings are interesting? Perhaps because it combines the ideas and materials of the artist’s creativity to achieve a new structure. The structure of each work always has a connecting thread, like the connection between Eastern and Western artistic culture.”
The project “Wind and Water” has been focused on composing by Le Van Son in the past few years. This series of paintings revolves around the close connection between the natural world and Eastern philosophy. In this research, he is especially interested in the laws of nature or issues related to the environment.
Asians believe that the harmonious rotation of wind and water brings people peace, prosperity, health and happiness.
And these works, according to Le Van Son’s inference, are a major change in thinking about Eastern culture and philosophy, built on modern Western-style models and layouts, as well as family history. His family is a harmonious combination of Eastern and Western cultures…
Artist Le Van Son said: “In the project “Wind and Water”, I have created for myself a change in thinking about Eastern culture and philosophy, built on the current structural and layout model. Completely Western style.
The comic story is the origin of Eastern art told in a modern Western style. Therefore, the works in “Wind and Water” always stand between the East and West border, so they are quite suitable for the tastes of viewers.”
Works in the painting series “Wind and Water”
What is quite special is that Le Van Son’s wife – Ms. Kerstin Schiele (German) spent many years studying and researching in Vietnam with a major in Oriental studies. Currently, she is a doctor of Oriental studies. That’s why, when Le Van Son began to change his artistic methods, turn to research and create his own path, Ms. Kerstin Schiele supported her husband a lot.
Ms. Kerstin Schiele shared: “I studied Oriental studies so I have a little understanding of Eastern philosophy and culture. Therefore, when Son conducted the Oriental painting series or the “Wind and Water” painting project, we discussed a lot together. I think I have made a certain contribution to my husband’s creative process…”.
Throughout the work process, Le Van Son applies geometric space to build a series of works. Besides, the way of drawing shapes, colors, techniques and space are handled simply, so that the composition structure of the work interacts directly with the outside environment is quite interesting.
With a surface thickness of twenty centimeters protruding from the wall surface along with the established picture frame structure, the work straddles the linguistic border of painting and sculpture. Le Van Son wants to aim for a new structure in contemporary painting.
Return to your roots
The basic thing that Le Van Son pursues is to form his own style of a Vietnamese artist with his traditional culture but expressed by modern European art.
After nearly 10 years of living with his son-in-law in Germany, Le Van Son began to integrate into the local culture, gradually becoming a member of the German community. However, memories of Vietnam’s Tet days are always vivid in him.
“I remember when I was in Vietnam, every year when Tet came, my father and I would go together to buy ornamental plants, buy household items, stay up all night cooking banh Tet and celebrate New Year’s Eve. Now every time spring comes, sitting in the Western sky, I miss my hometown so much…” – Son said.
Colleagues and art lovers watch Le Van Son’s paintings. Photo: NVCC
Le Van Son was born in 1984 in Tam Ky City. He began to love painting in 9th grade and found a painting teacher to learn. After graduating from high school, Le Van Son entered Hue University of Fine Arts and began to engage in painting until now.
Mr. Le Van Ngo in An My ward (Tam Ky city), father of artist Le Van Son, shared: “Son has loved drawing since he was young. When his parents gave him money for breakfast, he saved it to buy crayons and then found a teacher to learn how to draw.” . As a parent, I only know how to motivate and worry about my children’s education…”.
Like many other artists, Le Van Son started his artistic path with traditional fine arts with paintings that are quite popular in Vietnam. But when he went to Europe to major in visual arts, Le Van Son began to change his creative style.
Le Van Son explains this change, saying: “When I went to Europe to study for a master’s degree, there was a great urge to love my homeland and traditional Vietnamese culture in a foreign land. Son began to paint a series of oriental paintings and was in the process of searching for a new direction. That is the style of geometric abstract painting.”
ĐẶNG TRƯƠNG• 12/02/2022 20:05
