An exhibition titled Hành Trình Tarot của Dương (Duong’s Tarot Journey) will open in central Hanoi next week. — Photo courtesy of the artist

The exhibition titled Hành Trình Tarot của Dương (Duong’s Tarot Journey) will display 78 oil on canvas paintings by Bui Hoang Duong, a Muong ethnicity artist from the central province of Thanh Hoa, who has spent three years creating the works.

Duong said he had experienced a “journey” through his life that he said was hard to describe but seemed like an attempt to explore new things using tarot cards.

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Artist Bui Hoang Duong.

“Each picture is a story of my own, a combination of my painting, my living space, my own colours of harmony and ideas. Tarot cards lead me on the tireless search for the philosophy of life, human life and everything in the operation of life too. In other words, an entire deck of tarot cards is my personal experience for nearly 40 years,” said Duong.

The artist said he had experienced a tarot life of his own and painted it out as art.

“Each tarot card is a challenge to me and 78 paintings reflected in 78 tarot cards may answer all questions of life. It is something very invisible but it is also something I have to grasp,” said Duong.

“I have found my own card, what about you? What will you see in the card? Do you live a life that is a card or a deck of cards? Have you found yourself or not? Do you have the full answer for your life? Do you have the cards in your hand and use them well?"

Duong said he was sure viewers would find the values of ignorance, superstition and darkness will change to make room for a colourful experience, flashing and capering of life and art.

Duong paints dogs in different moods and in doing so, conveys his own emotions. — Photo courtesy of the artist

Duong, 39, has a special affection for dogs, particularly those he has raised and his love for man’s best friend is evident in his paintings.

Duong has travelled extensively throughout the country and abroad since 2000. He has created more than 300 paintings and most of his artworks are portraits of dogs, showing interactions between the canine animal and humans.

He paints dogs in different moods and in doing so, conveys his own emotions.

Artist Nguyen Xuan Hoang said he was impressed by Duong’s works.

“His works to be exhibited next month have been created with inspiration from tarot cards that he regarded as the presentation of spiritual and causal experiences of a human being. They are not only paintings but a world you should take a journey through to enjoy all of the emotional angles of life,” said Hoang.

The exhibition will open between March 3-7 in Art and Photograph Exhibition House on 29 Hang Bai Street, Hanoi. — VNS

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Ngo Luc, a painter and architect in HCM City, believes it is necessary “to open more art spaces in the city to deepen aesthetic appreciation and creativity among people, especially youth.”