On the evening of October 6th, the CHATS exhibition opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, showcasing over 50 works by artist Phan Hien Nhan, from the collection of Dr. Do Vu Anh (Viet Duc Hospital).
Primarily created using acrylic on canvas between 2022 and 2026, the more than 50 works in the CHATS exhibition do not follow the conventional realism style. Through the hands of artist Phan Hien Nhan, the cat's form is simplified into geometric shapes, curves, rhythms, and color relationships.
A cat curled up evokes peace; a head turn that is both wary and playful; a relaxed, sprawled body suggests letting go. These "very cat-like" states are, in fact, "very human." Humans sometimes want to withdraw, sometimes are curious about the world , then want to turn away; sometimes they are hurried, but at other times they simply want to lie still and watch time quietly pass. Phan Hien Nhan's paintings don't speak for or impose their views, but rather act as an open mirror, allowing each viewer to step in through their own memories and emotions.
With their original, strong, and pure colors, the cats in the paintings don't possess the colors of real life, but rather shades of blue, red, yellow, indigo, and purple… This innocence, reminiscent of the world of childhood, stands within a solid conceptual structure: the simpler the form and the more direct the colors, the wider the space for empathy.
A meeting point between surgeons wielding scalpels and artists wielding paintbrushes.
Phan Hien Nhan's world of painting captivates viewers, but it is the serendipitous circumstances that brought this collection to public attention that tell a different story about how an art lover interacts with beauty.
Dr. Do Vu Anh was exposed to art from a young age through lessons in basic shapes and colors. As he grew older and entered the medical field, he realized the striking similarity between anatomy and painting: both are arts of structure, proportion, and precision.
"I have a passion for art, especially painting. It makes me place great emphasis on aesthetics in each of my surgeries," Dr. Do Vu Anh shared with a VietNamNet reporter.
The connection between Dr. Do Vu Anh and painter Phan Hien Nhan began in a small room filled with paintings on Phan Boi Chau Street. The first painting became the pretext for lengthy conversations. Two people seemingly from opposite worlds – one wielding a scalpel, the other a paintbrush – found common ground in their observational skills, their anxieties about structure, and their yearning to discover the meaning behind their work.
Beyond the concept of "creator - collector," they have become companions. Dr. Vu Anh shared: "Calling myself a collector might not be quite right. I consider myself a companion, working alongside and sharing the passion with Mr. Nhan."
For a surgeon who faces life-or-death pressures in the operating room every day, painting serves as a "break" to soothe the mind.
"Life in the operating room is quite stressful and repetitive every day. I need moments to relax a little. Sometimes, after a long day at work, just spending a few short minutes looking at paintings makes everything feel much more stable and pleasant," Dr. Vu Anh confided.
Besides collecting paintings, Dr. Do Vu Anh also keeps antique ceramics and clocks. His habit of "searching" for antiques, dating back to his time as a student in France, helps him frame his life's memories. Each item in his living room is connected to a memory, a trip, a past milestone.
The decision to move the collection of over 50 cat paintings out of the small room on Phan Boi Chau Street to host the CHATS exhibition stemmed from a desire to share positivity.
The image of the cat is familiar and closely associated with everyone's childhood. The combination of creative design and vibrant colors helps the artwork easily touch the emotions of the audience. Notably, within the framework of the exhibition, Dr. Do Vu Anh and artist Phan Hien Nhan also dedicated a space for elementary school students to visit, learn how to appreciate art, and directly paint.
Photos and videos : T. Lê
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tiet-lo-bac-si-thich-suu-tam-tranh-do-gom-and-dong-ho-co-2562374.html
