ABOUT THE ARTWORK
In A Bygone Golden Age, Nguyễn Ánh Dương draws on imagery associated with courtly art and historical memory—dragons, clouds, a throne, and seal-like motifs—without presenting them as intact relics of the past. These symbols emerge from dense layers of red, gold, brown, and black, at times sharply defined and at others partially obscured, like fragments of memory resurfacing from the depths of time. The lacquer process of covering, polishing, and revealing becomes integral to the work’s meaning: the past never returns unchanged, but is always filtered through loss, transformation, and recollection. The painting thus evokes not only a vanished age of splendor, but also the persistence of heritage and historical power within contemporary memory.
Artworks of Same Topic
Sương mai
2023 • D=120cm • Lacquer
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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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