Artist's "dialogue" with sculptor Diem Phung Thi

HNN - The contributions and imprints of sculptor Diem Phung Thi have had a great influence on the world's sculpture art. Hue was fortunate that she chose to return and live here for the rest of her life and give away her artistic assets. Since then, many artists have come to visit, get inspired and create their works, like a "dialogue" without distance.

A corner of the exhibition space displaying the "dialogue" between contemporary artists and sculptor Diem Phung Thi

On the 105th anniversary of the birth of sculptor Diem Phung Thi (1920-2025), contemporary artists had such a "dialogue" right at the art space named after her located on Le Loi Street, next to the bank of the Huong River.

More than 30 works of art and many jewelry sets were inspired by the flexible modular system of sculptor Diem Phung Thi to adapt. Each creation is like a voice of respect and admiration for the creative talent of the predecessor. The artists learn and understand the philosophy and aesthetic of Diem Phung Thi's sculpture. From there, they use appropriate techniques to bring Diem Phung Thi's nuances into their works or to tell a new story in today's society.

Bringing to viewers a set of three posters about Mrs. Diem Phung Thi, artist Nguyen Thien Duc said that they were made with respect and admiration for the talent of his predecessors. The three posters were inspired by Mrs. Diem's ​​deep feelings, love for her profession, and passion for creativity. They are not only shown through specific works, with modern shaping techniques through her characteristic modular structure as a unique identity, but also from her burning heart, creativity and dedication to life. With a concise, modern design language combining graphics - text - 2D graphics, they have combined to create a portrait of a talented sculptor.

Meanwhile, the two works “ The Worldview of Diem Phung Thi” and “Language” displayed in this “dialogue” were inspired by the modules of sculptor Diem Phung Thi by artist Tran Vinh Thinh. This artist believes that these modules are a new language in the contemporary sculptural language of the 20th century. “Inspired by that idea as well as admiring her creativity, I painted with the sincere emotions of later generations. Her worldview is so vast and my strength is limited, so I tried to paint two works as a tribute to the talented artist, it is a continuing fate and inheritance from her”, artist Thinh confided.

Watching the “dialogue” of contemporary artists with famous sculptors, we can see the tireless work of Ms. Diem Phung Thi. Her creativity is like a cultural river flowing forever, connecting souls and artistic values ​​throughout many generations. And generations of artists have adapted and created from Diem Phung Thi’s artistic language into their own works to express the continuity of generations of artists in that artistic flow, adding more meaning, contributing to conveying and spreading Diem Phung Thi’s art to the public.

Ms. Dinh Thi Hoai Trai, Director of the Hue Museum of Fine Arts, the unit managing the Diem Phung Thi Art Center, said that this "dialogue" is like a link to express gratitude for the great contributions of sculptor Diem Phung Thi to Vietnamese art in general and Hue in particular. "Today's and future generations will always respect, be grateful, and remember the great heart and contributions of sculptor Diem Phung Thi and continue to preserve, promote, and develop Diem Phung Thi's art works to the public and international friends," Ms. Trai shared.

A separate art world

Diem Phung Thi is recognized by the world as the most famous contemporary female sculptor of Vietnam and has a great influence on the world's sculpture art. Her name has gone beyond the territory of Vietnam and is admired by the whole world as one of two Asians named in the Larousse Dictionary - 20th Century Arts (1991), honored as a Corresponding Member of the European Academy of Sciences , Literature and Arts (1992).

The uniqueness of Diem Phung Thi is that she created a type of sculpture based on the assembly and variation of 7 geometric modules. Art critic Raymond Cogniat called it a letter, and Professor Tran Van Khe called it 7 musical notes, which in Taoist thought are considered as Diem Phung Thi's "7 intervals of life". With just these 7 letters, sculptor Diem Phung Thi created a separate artistic world.

Through her massive artistic works (nearly 400 works) dedicated to Hue, art lovers not only know her as a beautiful, strong and talented woman but also know the soul of a great artist, a Vietnamese woman living far away from home but always thinking of her homeland and country.

Nhat Minh

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/my-thuat-dieu-khac/cuoc-doi-thoai-cua-nghe-si-voi-nha-dieu-khac-diem-phung-thi-155311.html