ABOUT THE ARTWORK
In *Sương mai* (Morning Dew), Nguyễn Ánh Dương arranges the imagery within a circular composition, creating a self-contained space of memory and sensation. Emerging from a deep turquoise background, layers of organic forms, delicate lines, and tiny points of light radiate around a central oval shape—evoking a dewdrop, a seed, or a nascent life form cradled within nature.
Notably, the imagery is not fully defined. Areas of shadow, translucent color layers, and surface textures cause the forms to appear as if they are simultaneously emerging and dissolving into the surrounding space. The characteristic lacquer process of layering, obscuring, sanding, and revealing thus becomes integral to the work’s visual language: the viewer does not grasp the subject instantly but must trace the interplay of visible and hidden layers.
*Sương mai* evokes a fleeting moment between night and day, between potentiality and emergence. Through this, Nguyễn Ánh Dương does more than depict a natural scene; he opens up a mode of perceiving life itself—silent, mysterious, and perpetually in the process of coming into being.
Artworks of Same Topic
Vàng son một thuở
2023 • 120 x 160cm • Lacquer
Thuở vàng son
2023 • 90 x 120cm • Lacquer
Hạnh nguyện
2020 • 90 x 120cm • Lacquer
Hành trì
2018 • 80 x 150cm • Oil Painting
PARTICIPATED EXHIBITIONS
No cataloged exhibitions.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Nguyễn Ánh Dương (Nguyễn Ánh Dương)
(1980 – )Born in 1980 in Quang Binh, Nguyen Anh Duong studied painting at the College of Arts, Hue University, graduating in 2003; he later pursued a Master’s degree in Visual Arts at Mahasarakham University in Thailand, graduating in 2012. He is currently a lecturer at the College of Arts, Hue University, and a member of both the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and the Hue Fine Arts Association. In his creative practice, Nguyen Anh Duong works with a diverse range of materials and themes—spanning landscapes of Hue, silk paintings of young women, and Zen-inspired contemplations to experiments with abstract and surrealist nuances. He often develops his work in series, exploring a specific theme over an extended period before transitioning to a new creative direction. Hue—with its landscapes, architecture, and rich cultural heritage—serves as a vital source of inspiration for his art. The sea is a recurring theme that has left a distinct mark on Nguyen Anh Duong’s artistic journey, deeply connected to memories of his native Quang Binh and personal experiences. His seascapes frequently employ cool color palettes—particularly shades of blue—and blend realistic imagery with symbolic elements. His work *Gift of the Sea* (Quà của biển) won a "C" prize from the National Committee of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations in 2014, while the piece *Waves* (Sóng) received the annual award from the Thua Thien Hue Fine Arts Association in 2016.
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