Page 16 - The Enchanting Land

“THE HEART THAT LAUGHS”

OF LE THANH SON

1. 2.
“Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which of seasons. He paints well in Fall and Winter, yet in Summer he always At a hind sight, 30 years ago, Renovation (Doi moi) started in Hanoi (1986) since more options are available, yet it is more difficult to realize the most
does not laugh, and the greatness with does not bow before children” – feels uneasy to work, and usually spends the whole season of Summer and not only “untied arts and literature” but also created a momentum suitable one. In addition to easel art, Vietnamese fine arts at this juncture
Kahlil Gibran (1883 – 1931). For this prophet, a wisdom that does not cry to rest and relax. In Spring, he travels and goes sight-seeing to spot out to establish a new generation of artists with stark differences from the saw the innate formation of new schools and genres, from installation art,
and a heart that does not laugh is startling, since it could be the genesis of or sketch fresh scenes. previous eras. Taking a sharp turn away from the earlier periods, when performance art to video art, land art, conceptual art and even skepticism.
tragedy, of war, of termination of love and of destruction of creativity. arts and literature used to be heavily influenced by ideology, politics, class To pick one from the above, and many other available genres, would open
It has been almost 15 years since Le Thanh Son last staged a solo exhibition,
And great author Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) once wrote: “For there though he kept working fervently, professionally and continually all the viewpoints or propaganda, the Renovation generation (especially in the a new path, a new perspective for the artist to engage in a journey. And
are two distinct sorts of ideas: Those that proceed from the head, and time. This new series, mainly comprises of the works depicting landscape fields of literatures and fine arts) has “shaken off the mud to luminously truly so. Since the Renovation era, Vietnamese fine arts has undergone
those that emanate from the heart.” Le Thanh Son’s works belong to the in the remote uplands, all with teeming emotion, fresh and energetic emerge” as poet Nguyen Dinh Thi foretold since 1948 – 1955. Generally a drastic revival, giving birth to many new styles and interesting artists.
second type. But his is a heart that laughs, so his paintings always emanates style, is perhaps the major motivation for this new solo exhibition. For speaking, this generation expressed their personal attitude to a relatively In such an overwhelming and alluring context, Le Thanh Son remains
optimism. Loaded with romanticism and fantasy, his works nonetheless an established artist whose work is constantly in high demand over the full extent, to be considered the reconnection of individualism of the pre- determined with his own path, those he mentioned that it was not his
is never cheesy nor pessimistic. Numerous places have attempted to last 30 years, having made his appearance in numerous group and solo war and Nhan van-Giai pham eras which has been then severed. deliberate choice. That is his natural choice and attitude. In deed, with
counterfeit Le Thanh Son’s works but none has attained the perfection of exhibitions, organizing one more show seems to be highly hesitant. A Le Thanh Son became prominent right at the threshold of Renovation era, his masterful technique, if he wants to depict just the appearance, he can
his expression technique, not to mention the failure to apply the view of a new show that does not show any new aspect of oneself would be vain. and has experienced multiple methods and concepts of creativity before paint anything. But he does not want to deceive himself, and choose to
heart that laughs. With a heart that only knows to cry, it is quick to cause He conceded that there was a time (around the years 2002 to 2004) he settling down with his current emotion-led style. He once had tediously listen to his heart’s instructions instead. “One day, if my heart instructs
tear without due emotion. found his new paintings nothing but “reproduction” of his old works, so attempted to take outdoor sketches, tediously trained his hands with me to make conceptual art, I will do it and would not use my mind to
resist,” said Le Thanh Son.
At first sight, or without the chance to spectate in person, it might he silently destroyed or stored them away, before deciding to take a break different techniques, tediously studied various schools just to eventually
seem that Le Thanh Son’s works are more or less of a carefree style. But from painting altogether to revive his creative energy. Subsequently, from opted to let go and just followed the urge of the heart. These past years, Le Each individual self is suitable for an individual choice, a certain path.
he indeed is a productive artist who paints at fast pace but not at all 2005 till now, he regained inner peace and delight, so his works are likewise Thanh Son nearly withdraw from social life entirely and spend almost his Perhaps Le Thanh Son resonates with the thought of poet Henri-Frédéric
careless or easygoing. Each works is the end result of his contemplation, tranquil and delightful. whole time at home with his family and paint. The landscapes in his recent Amiel (1821-1881): “Man becomes man only by his intelligence, but he is
imagination and emotion being skillfully and gracefully executed on Another unusual factor is, for many people, the age of U60 means the age paintings appear somehow familiar, but indeed completely removed from man only by his heart.”
to the canvas. Le Thanh Son did reveal that, when he paints, he let of retirement, but Le Thanh Son’ style is still as powerful and youthful as real time and space. They belong to the realm of wonder, of childlike dream The Luohan Chamber, 11/19/2020
the emotion and excitement from the heart to lead the brush, while in his earlier years. Some of his paintings even radiate a breakthrough in as seen through the lens of the graceful Scheherazade in One Thousand Ly Doi
restricting the intervention of the mind or technique. He is happy feeling with a drifting, poetic palette, perhaps thanks to his self-attained and One Nights or of the naive Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
when emotion smoothly flows from his imagination to the works, and serenity and peacefulness. It seems that his heart is being rejuvenated on In an alluring style, Le Thanh Son has depicted a lively reality from fantasy.
describes the process as a source of positive enegery, an enchantment his canvas. Or in another word, as seen through this new series of painting, After the Renovation era, Vietnamese society has seen various unusual
attained while working. Le Thanh Son relates: “Any day I completed Le Thanh Son has not shown any sign of slowing down or fatigue though changes, when market and creative freedom started to open up, ushering
a painting with delight, that night I would undoubtedly have a better decades have passed since he started traveling on this very own path that in new schools, new styles and loads of currency. To pick one’s own path
sleep.” He also explained that his creativity depends heavily on the cycle he himself blazed open. amidst this wave of changes is both facilitated and challenging at once,

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