Art enthusiasts from Paris and across Europe recently converged at the prestigious Almine Rech Gallery in Paris for a captivating exhibition featuring the works of Tia-Thuy Nguyen, a renowned contemporary artist from Vietnam.

‘Sparkle in the Vastness,’ an artistic display by the celebrated artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen, takes center stage as a highlight at the renowned Almine Rech Gallery, enchanting the public as it opens its doors in the first month of 2024.

The exhibition lasts more than one month and is set to end on February 24.

Almine Rech stands as the esteemed venue for various prestigious exhibitions featuring renowned contemporary artists, including Justin Adian, Joe Andoe, Ziad Antar, Roby Dwi Antono, John M Armleder, and more.

This marks a significant stride in Tia-Thuy Nguyen's professional artistic journey and represents a rare opportunity for a Vietnamese contemporary artist to enjoy exclusive representation by a world-class gallery.

The collaboration is also an important milestone in Tia-Thuy Nguyen's artistic practice, demonstrating her professional stature on the international stage.

On the opening day of the exhibition, a large number of Parisian art aficionados, influential people in society, and friends were present to congratulate Tia-Thuy Nguyen.

Notably, the event witnessed the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, the grandson of artist Pablo Picasso, philanthropist, author, and heir to the ownership of Picasso's works.

Also in attendance were Almine Rech, founder of Almine Rech Gallery; Dinh Toan Thang, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Martin Rama, former chief economist of World Bank Vietnam; Eva Nguyen Binh, president of the French Institute; Vanessa Tubino, treasurer of the Principality of Monaco Expatriate Club; Mara Hoberman, art historian and researcher of Joan Mitchell Catalog Raisonné (Paris); along with many reporters and media outlets who came to cover and interview the Vietnamese artist.

The exhibition is held in a minimalist space with white walls to highlight the works.

Those visitors dedicated ample time to appreciating the artworks, engaging in conversations, and exchanging thoughts with the owner of the pieces.

Such discussions revolved around her passion for art, creative inspiration, and the intricate techniques employed in drawing, embroidery, beading, and more.

Recognition of Tia-Thuy Nguyen's talent by Almine Rech  

The year 2023 marked Tia-Thuy Nguyen's diligent and active activities in France and Europe when she continuously participated in exhibitions, like Floating in the Nothingness, Flower of Life, and others.

It all made a strong impression on Almine Rech, the French businessman and artist who founded Almine Rech Gallery – one of the leading art galleries in the world – and co-founded FABA (Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso), an organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Pablo Picasso and maintaining an extensive archive of his works.

Without hesitation, Almine Rech extended an invitation to Tia-Thuy Nguyen and allocated space at the prestigious Paris gallery for her solo exhibition in the early days of 2024, marking a brilliant start to the new year for the artist.

With more than 20 works in the ‘Sparkle in the Vastness’ exhibition, Tia-Thuy Nguyen brought a visual feast to viewers as she continued to ‘play’ with diverse materials.

Presenting over 20 works in the 'Sparkle in the Vastness' exhibition, Tia-Thuy Nguyen treated viewers to a visual feast, skillfully ‘playing’ with various materials.

Despite her classical training in Western painting, she has consistently sought to infuse her practice with the essence of the Asian spirit that has profoundly influenced her artistic journey.

As someone who loves and appreciates craftsmanship, she spent many years learning and pursuing traditional embroidery and applique techniques to turn them into her own unique painting language.

'Sparkle in the Vastness' serves as a continuation of Tia-Thuy Nguyen's creative exploration inspired by clouds. These inspirations trace back to the stories of her father, a former air force pilot, who recounted experiences of flying through majestic clouds.

Enchanted by the mysterious and remarkably clear beauty of clouds, Tia-Thuy Nguyen developed a profound connection and genuine concern for both the clouds and the interplay of light within them.

Naturally, they enter her works, in the shapes, in the layers of materials, and even in the somewhat dramatic way of handling light, opening up magnificent scenes.

Drawing from her father's career as an air force pilot, personal life experiences, and reflections in resonance with the book ‘My Way: The Way of White Clouds’ by Osho (1975), Tia-Thuy Nguyen uncovered layers of clouds that mirror her own emotions – sometimes vast and desolate, other times bright and hopeful.

A special experience for Parisian art connoisseurs

'Sparkle in the Vastness' took its viewers on a journey of continuous surprises, showcasing Tia-Thuy Nguyen's mastery of innovative composition techniques.

Her approach involves developing the composition with diverse shades of paint, and then applying various craft techniques to enhance the layers.

The infusion of countless sparkling beads, colorful wool fibers spanning thousands of meters, along with the integration of jute and bamboo fabrics, yielded vibrant and brilliant scenes.

The embossing and intertwining of these materials created a sparkling effect that harmoniously graced the surface of each work.

The deliberate overlapping of layers formed a shared landscape, simultaneously concealing and revealing aspects, evoking reflections on the artist's compressed stories and emotional experiences throughout the creative process.

Tia-Thuy Nguyen drew inspiration from the Hang Trong folk painting genre, infusing her works with warm colors and employing bright, vibrant, and somewhat spontaneous color schemes.

The adept incorporation of the spirit found in folk art genres showcases a ‘special talent’ within Tia-Thuy Nguyen, enabling her to craft a highly personal and distinctly ‘Vietnamese’ artistic portrait.

This unique quality becomes evident when her works are juxtaposed with those of international artists.

Present at the ‘Sparkle in the Vastness’ exhibition, many friends, colleagues, and art lovers gave compliments to the artist.

"When I first saw Tia-Thuy Nguyen's sky paintings, I was immediately captivated by her ability to structure and imagine the space around us: the sky,” Almine Rech said.

“The sky in different atmospheric regions, the sky from dusk to dawn, or at night.

“I would love to know about her passion for these paintings.

“Her artwork not only captures the beauty and awe of the sky but also reflects her patience in the creative process.

“She invests considerable time in adorning oil paintings on canvas with beads.

“Through her work, she communicates a spectrum of emotions, ranging from love and hope to fear, encapsulating the enduring sentiments experienced during the prolonged days of waiting for a soldier to return from war.”

During the exhibit, the Vietnamese artist expressed her gratitude to Almine Rech for providing a valuable opportunity that facilitated artistic collaboration and synergy between two creative minds.

"My father's stories have contributed to shaping my ability to deeply observe and research, as well as the way I live and face everything in life,” she said.

“Patience, determination, and striving are also values that I have learned from his career and applied to my life and my artworks.

“I hope ‘Sparkle in the Vastness’ will bring wonderful experiences and create ‘sparkle’ in the hearts of viewers.”

The warmly embraced display at Almine Rech in France underscored Tia-Thuy Nguyen's distinctive standing in the realm of contemporary art.

Viewers cannot overlook her deep affection and significant contributions to the preservation and development of traditional crafts and Vietnamese folk arts.

Some artworks on display:

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