Hanoi-born painter shows art of Upsidedownism in capital

Painter Nguyen Dai Giang's Upsidedownism has returned to the capital's public in a new solo exhibition, Origin.

The exhibition, which opened on October 15, features 32 paintings depicting life, culture, zodiac animals, and portraits of writers and artists, taking viewers on a journey into the world of Upsidedownism, a unique creation by the artist.

Painter Nguyen Dai Giang presents the Perfume Pagoda Festival painting. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

His world is full of absurdities that violate the rules of anatomy in fine art, but this "paradox" is still embedded in a reality that is all too familiar to everyone. Thus, when looking at strange portraits, the mouth is on the forehead, the eyes are under the chin... but people are still able to identify the subjects as the musician Trinh Cong Son, the painter Bui Xuan Phai, the writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, the writer Bao Ninh... without a doubt.

Giang believes everyone's life is the same and that good and bad things are always combined. Things are always changing, but the beginning and the end are the same. This is where the art of inversion comes from - drawing a picture that has some right and some wrong, but, in the end still retains the essence of art, a stunning reality.

Ca tru (ceremonial singing) in Hanoi.

"I want to use Upsidedownism to bring something new, humorous, and witty to the work. In portraits, I often draw the mouth on the forehead, which means that trouble can come from the mouth, so before we speak, we must use wisdom and think twice. The nose is turned up to breathe in fresh air, and the eyes are under the chin to advise people to be more humble," the artist said.

Giang now lives in the US, but will soon return to his homeland. This solo show is a prelude to that.

The largest painting in the exhibition is Birth, Aging, Disease, Death, Birth, which measures 205 by 552 cm and depicts the cycle of human life. This is the biggest message the artist wants to convey.

"Falling leaves return to their roots. For many years, I have always looked toward my homeland. There is no painting in this exhibition called Origin, but the exhibition as a whole is Origin for me, the faces of writers and artists I cherish, images of cultural activities, and my favorite hometown dishes like pork roll and Bun cha (grilled pork and noodles) from Hanoi," the artist confided.

Making gio cha (pork roll) in Hanoi.

He said that to practice art in the US, he had to comply with all the strict regulations regarding copyright and professional ethics. He was granted the copyright for his Upsidedownism art. As a result, he was able to exhibit and present his paintings all over the world. The artist expressed his happiness that through him, Vietnamese national art has contributed to the overall development of world art.

Commenting on Nguyen Dai Giang's art, sculptor Ta Quang Bao said: "As the years go by, the things an artist leaves behind is a lasting reputation thanks to his works. The value of a person is the result of labor. Giang has found his own way, a unique artistic path, to stand firmly in the art industry and express his individuality and artistic personality. That's enough."

Artist Nguyen Dai Giang was born in Hanoi in 1944. From 1969 to 1974, he majored in graphics at the Moscow School of Industrial Fine Arts (Russia), then studied graphics in Seattle in 1996-1997.

Throughout his creative life, he has participated in many international exhibitions and organized domestic exhibitions (in Ho Chi Minh City in 2009; Hanoi in 2014, 2018; Hue in 2016; Danang in 2018). His paintings have received many important awards around the world and are present in art collections in many countries: Japan, Russia, Canada, USA, Belgium, France, Spain among others.

The exhibition Origin runs until October 22 at Exhibition House 29 Hang Bai, Hanoi.