Sculptor Nguyen Hoang Anh and the exhibition Words of the Wind

Nguyễn Hoàng Ánh - Ảnh 1. — Enjoy the work "Close to the land, far from the sky" at the solo exhibition of artist Nguyen Hoang Anh - Photo: H.VY

The exhibition "Words of the Wind" brings together nearly 200 multi-material sculptures along with some sketches and research materials from sculptor Nguyen Hoang Anh's student days, on display from now until August 17 at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts.

This is not only a rare solo exhibition in the field of sculpture in Vietnam, but also an opportunity to admire the remarkable creative journey over 40 years of a passionate sculptor and a dedicated teacher.

Sculpture is like a poem with many perspectives and levels.

Born in 1960 and involved in art since 1981, the name of sculptor Nguyen Hoang Anh is not unfamiliar to the public. He has won many national and international sculpture awards and has many monumental and relief works in public spaces throughout the southern provinces.

But after a lifetime of teaching at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts and diligently composing, it was not until he was 65 that he held his first solo exhibition with the gentle, modest name Words of the Wind.

The works in the exhibition also evoke a feeling of lightness, fragility, and delicacy like the wind passing over the surface of bronze and stone materials, leaving behind a concise, simplified language of shapes that distills the essence of emotions and thoughts.

There, viewers can feel the author's memories, dreams and decades of professional experience condensed into shapes that are both poetic and romantic but also witty and humorous.

Not ostentatious or noisy, Words of the Wind exudes the spirit of Eastern meditation but is still full of novelty, reflecting the artist's thoughts on modern life.

Nguyễn Hoàng Ánh - Ảnh 2. — The work *Words of the Wind* at the exhibition of artist Nguyen Hoang Anh - Photo: H.VY

"To me, sculpture is poetry with the deep melody of shapes, the beauty of divided space, awakening deep emotions in the soul.

In the process of creating, what I always look for is beauty and positive energy. Like whispers in the wind, the work simply invites the viewer's heart to open, receive, listen and empathize." - sculptor Nguyen Hoang Anh confided.

The exhibition is also a process of Nguyen Hoang Anh experimenting and exploring , finding the consistency between materials and compositional thinking to increase the vitality of the work. Because if not, the work will be destroyed like "Truong Ba's soul trapped in the butcher's skin".

As painter Phan Trong Van said, after more than four decades of tireless creativity, Nguyen Hoang Anh has found for himself a sculptural language that is simple yet rich in emotion. All life experiences have been distilled into subtle, concise "words" that only the wind can convey.

Therefore, Words of the Wind not only displays the artwork of an artist at his peak, but also tells the story of a Southern artist's life and career devoted to sculpture.

Nguyễn Hoàng Ánh - Ảnh 3. — Sculptor Nguyen Hoang Anh with his work "Blue Sky" at the exhibition "Words of the Wind" - Photo: H.VY

Nguyen Hoang Anh fuels his love for his job with tireless work

Painter Uyen Huy, former president of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, affirmed that Nguyen Hoang Anh is an artist - teacher who loves his profession with a spirit of endless creativity, and is one of the typical sculptors of Ho Chi Minh City and the country in general.

"His whole life was devoted to sculpture, from his school days until he stayed and taught for more than 30 years at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts. With a creative style that is academic, realistic but always humanistic, stylized, witty and emotional, looking at his works, you can immediately recognize Mr. Anh's own mark.

He also inspired many generations of students and was a pioneer in innovative thinking" - Professor, People's Teacher, Sculptor Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association - emphasized.

Nguyễn Hoàng Ánh - Ảnh 4. — The exhibition attracted a large number of professionals, sculptors, painters, lecturers, art students and art lovers to enjoy - Photo: H.VY

For artist Nguyen Duy Nhut, a lover of both painting and sculpture, this is not only an exhibition but also a wordless conversation between artistic souls.

He expressed his gratitude to sculptor Nguyen Hoang Anh for instilling in him the belief that in the midst of a bustling and diverse life, there are still people who silently devote themselves to creative work.

That inspiration rolls like ocean waves but is also gentle like the wind: touching, stirring, and leaving an echo.

"What I admire is that his works are not bound to a single theme. They are like broken beats in a long piece of music, allowing the audience to suddenly be interrupted from the hasty flow, then let themselves fall into another, more multi-dimensional, richer emotional realm.

In this exhibition, I see an artist who has fulfilled his role: not only with himself, but also with his family and society. His creations are proof that when an artist lives fully with his innate passion, his work will naturally find its way into the hearts of the audience." - Artist Nguyen Duy Nhut feels.

Some pictures at the exhibition Words of the Wind: