A ceramic collage portrait of renowned Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910). Photo courtesy of Area 75 - Art & Auction

HÀ NỘI An exhibition showing portraits of celebrated Vietnamese and foreign figures depicted with ceramic pieces on lacquer surface is now open to the public at a gallery in Hà Nội.

Called Chiêm Bao (Dream), it is the first solo show by artist Tô Ngọc Trang. It is also the first exhibition of ceramic collage portraits on lacquer in Việt Nam.

Visitors can enjoy the unique artwork at Area 75 - Art & Auction on 75 Hàng Bồ Street in the capital until January 19.

Dream features 26 portraits of famous Vietnamese and foreign figures, such as Jesus Christ, Buddha, Einstein, Lev Tolstoy, Picasso, General Trần Hưng Đạo, songwriter Văn Cao or painter Bùi Xuân Phái.

A special self-portrait of the artist is also on display, created from broken pieces of a ceramic bowl that belonged to his wife. This is the first portrait in the series and marks the beginning of a new phase in his artistic career.

A self-portrait of the artist is also on display, created from broken pieces of a ceramic bowl that belonged to his wife. Photo courtesy of the artist

“By the end of 2021, my wife broke a beautiful ceramic bowl and asked me to fix it,” Trang recalled.

“Looking at the pile of broken pieces, I surprisingly saw a reflection of myself. I tried to piece them together into my own face, and in the end, everyone who came to see recognised it.

“I found this game very enjoyable, so I continued to collect broken ceramic pieces around the house and asked for more everywhere. My neighbours were happy to have their trash cleared away.

“I realised that broken ceramic pieces have a certain sustainable beauty. Moreover, they come in countless shapes and forms, from figures to fragments, volumes and colours."

“Traditional painting has been using materials like watercolour, oil paint, lacquer and acrylic for expression. So why not use broken ceramic pieces, which come in various forms, to assemble them together, evoking shapes, volumes and colours to create a new perception?" he asked.

Artist Lý Trực Sơn said he was impressed by the first-of-its-kind portraits in Việt Nam.

“I can't be sure about the number of people who like Trang's portraits, which are quite novel in style. Personally, I like them and quickly feel a connection and affection for them,” he said.

“The broken ceramic pieces become patterns, coming together to form the portraits of famous figures who are symbols of science, art, religion, politics or even those who only exist in literature. Everyone is celebrated, brought back to life with their own appearance within the structure of artistic language.

“Viewers may find joy in recognising the faces of figures like Einstein, Leo Tolstoy and Picasso among the collection of ceramic collages.”

Visitors at the 'Dream' exhibition. Photo courtesy of the artist

“The use of broken ceramics in making pictures has been explored by many artists from the University of Industrial Fine Arts. Artist Tô Ngọc Trang also graduated from this university, but his approach is unique and does not adhere to any traditional technical order,” art critic Phan Cẩm Thượng said.

A portrait of English comedian Charlie Chaplin (1889–1977). Photo courtesy of the artist

Trang graduated in lacquer painting from the University of Industrial Fine Arts in Hà Nội. He used to work as an illustrator at the Kim Đồng Publishing House, winning several prestigious awards for illustration, including the Illustration Award from the Kim Đồng Publishing House (2000), the Illustration Award from Street Bank University in the US (2001), and the Illustration Award from the International Publishers Association (2002).

Artist Tô Ngọc Trang. Photo courtesy of the artist

Some of his works have been collected and published in multiple foreign countries. VNS