Hanoi-based artist Bui Quoc Khanh will hold his first solo exhibition titled “Mot vong doi” (Circle of Life) at the Center of Art-Photography Exhibition from October 9 to 15.

“Khoi dong” (Warm up), a piece of Bui Quoc Khanh’s “Circle of Life” exhibition

In this solo exhibition, Quoc Khanh presents 15 oil paintings. With the theme of public argument regarding social issues such as environment, education and others, in a decorative and pop-art style, his paintings show a vibrant, multi-tone space with bright, lively, contrasting colors with interlaced, overlapping shapes with so many details.

All resonate together to create a stuffed, cramped feeling about a world where materials take over, values decline, and blended with them are human faces, confused yet expressionless, aware yet immature, satisfied yet insecure. But above all, there is a feeling of imbalance, of lacking a fulcrum. The artist portrays it all with a light humor, that doesn’t give off a heavy feeling, but in contrast, it is very interesting for the audience.

Through his works, Bui Quoc Khanh wants to convey the philosophy of a circle of life of each of us: when we were born, each put one foot into the circle of life. By walking through many smaller circles, they will have to complete their grand circle; failures or successes, happiness or sorrow, they are all in the circle. For Quoc Khanh, this exhibition, or his art, is also in a circle. That philosophy inspires the name for the exhibition.

Khanh graduated from Vietnam University of Fine Arts with a bachelor’s degree in 2014 then a master’s in 2017, and is currently a lecturer at Hanoi College of Art. He has joined many group exhibitions and art projects in and out of the country.

SGT