An abstract painting by Nguyen Tan Cuong that will be displayed in his “Light” exhibition at Cuci Art Studio - PHOTO: COURTESY OF ORGANIZER

“Light” is Cuong’s first solo exhibition after 10 years of absence in the art space. The artist’s new collection is meant to prove that shadows and darkness are just as important as light.

Cuong’s paintings evoke pain. “I grew up during the war generation. I witnessed boundless human suffering,” said Cuong. The experience of suffering from wars is shown in his artworks through his technique of abstraction.

His paintings may lead viewers to the light, but after spending time meandering about his works, they will be drawn further to the shadows. Tanizaki’s words “Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty” is probably what captures Cuong’s “Light” exhibition. Shadow is his muse and light is what he brings to viewers in this exhibition.

Born in HCMC in 1953, Cuong started to paint at the age of 12 and graduated from The National College of Fine Arts Saigon in 1973. At this time, Southern art was still developing a sense of freedom and openness to international artistic trends.

Cuong had been practicing abstract art since the 1980s but it was not until 1991 that he devoted his full attention to abstract painting. Later, abstract art became a trend, spreading throughout the art communities from South to North.

When discussing the history of abstract art in Vietnam, it is impossible to ignore the name of Nguyen Tan Cuong, along with his fellow artists Ta Ty, Nguyen Phuoc, Nguyen Trung, Tran Van Thao, and Do Hoang Tuong. SGT