‘Golden Art for Golden Time’ by Swiss artist Thomas Sarbach on Sunday opened at HCMC Fine Arts Museum, offering a link between gold and art, contemporary people and history.
On display are 22 paintings made of oil on canvas and gold leaf 24K that Thomas bought in a Buddhist Monastery in Thailand. Each work has about 20 layers of oil then the final layer is gold-plated, a technique which is similar to Asian lacquer. Each work takes some months to be finished as the artist has to wait for each layer to be dried.

Gold-plated studded with other oil colors of the sea, yellow, red, black or white, the works arouse viewer’s imagination. “My works are inspired from the nature of rice fields, the sea as well as views of sunset when the day finishes, the golden light reflecting on the blue water, bringing people many emotions and thoughts,” said Thomas.

In those abstract paintings with deluxe material of gold, Thomas starts to narrate stories of his life as well as the history of his nation.

“I was born in Paraguay, Latin America where a lot of gold was stored and when the European colonial powers invaded they wanted to steal the gold, therefore there are bloody stories with much loss and sacrifices in my paintings, recalling my nation and a part of history,” said the artist.

He added that Switzerland where he grew up and is living is also a home of gold, so his paintings also express the prosperity and pride of his adopted country.

Gold is deemed worthy of struggles, wars and to die for, so as a modern artist, Thomas knows well about the power of gold with the simple beauty that no-one can escape from. That is why the show is a chance for guests dive into golden world of emotion and passion.

Thomas’ works are made in square shapes. “I want people to interact with my paintings like a kid playing with toys automatically to create conversation between people and the arts,” said the artist.

The show runs till April 10 at the museum, 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in HCMC’s District 1.

SGT