“Loong koong” exhibition – where ceramics, toy figurines, folk painting collide

A series of ceramic vases by Trinh Vu Hieu on display at the exhibition. From their passion for ceramics, artists Trinh Vu Hieu and Bui Quoc Khanh chose “Loong koong”, which mimicking the sound of ceramic pieces when they are slightly hitting each other, as the name of their joint exhibition. Introducing nearly 50 ceramic works, the contemporary ceramic installation is a rare encounter between the two creative artists, who both are greatly inspired by traditional Vietnamese folk culture. It is also a reflection of contemporary Vietnamese culture and society where the past, present, and future as well as old and new values are existing together. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A ceramic work by Bui Quoc Khanh. Artist Bui Quoc Khanh is inspired by the folk toys ‘to he’ – popular toys for Vietnamese children in the past. To he are small, colourful figurines made from glutinous rice powder in the shapes of well-known heroes, ordinary people, symbolic animals like dragons or phoenixes, common animals like water buffaloes, or flowers and fairies, among others. Taking inspiration from the toys, artist Bui Quoc Khanh has meticulously molded and breathed life into his contemporary characters made from clay, a material normally used to produce shape-limited and fragile structures. Bui Quoc Khanh’s works are both weird and funny with unique features, opening up the imagination of viewers. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Another pottery character by artist Bui Quoc Khanh. The ceramic works by Bui Quoc Khanh always impress the audience with their individuality and originality, as he often places many details of his creations in precarious and risky positions to arouse viewers’ emotions. His ceramic works demonstrate remarkable feats and meticulousness via countless details divided into layers, successive elements of shapes, and a range of colours. However, they still retain their Vietnamese identity. Bui Quoc Khanh has brought to the joint exhibition close to 25 works, which are the author’s artistic interpretation of pressing and prominent events and issues in the contemporary life and society. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A vase made by artist Trinh Vu Hieu on display at the exhibition. Trinh Vu Hieu identified himself at the exhibition through 32 handmade ceramic vases with familiar images and themes from Hang Trong folk paintings. Hang Trong painting is a genre of Vietnamese woodcut painting that originated from the area of Hang Trong and Hang Non streets in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. The genre dates back to about the 16th century and its development peaked in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It has been rated by researchers as highly aesthetical and sophisticated thanks to its woodblock printing and colouring techniques. The paintings also feature deep imprints of the culture and era when they came into being. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A close look at a vase made by Trinh Vu Hieu. Trinh Vu Hieu is always passionate about searching for new creative languages to satisfy his passion for art. The artist has restored traditional culture and conveyed pure Vietnamese historical stories through finely crafted works combined with folk painting art on ceramic surfaces. It is easy to see on his handmade ceramic vases presented at the joint exhibition the images of Tu phu cong dong (Four Palaces of the Council) and Ngu vi ton quan (Five Venerable Commanders), among others, from the Vietnamese worship of Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms. The folk-imbued decorated details are meticulously and carefully drawn on the vases. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A visitor takes a picture of a vase made by Trinh Vu Hieu at the event. Well-known as an artist who revives traditional cultural values, Trinh Vu Hieu is passionate and eager to convey Vietnamese historical stories through different mediums. The artist has combined folk materials from the Hang Trong paintings and the handmade ceramics techniques of the northern region to create this series of sophisticated craftsmanship artworks that go beyond a mere art form serving beliefs. Each of Trinh Vu Hieu’s devotional paintings on ceramics creates a different visual effect, which is like an old story told in a different but interesting way. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Contemplating the ancient spiritual life of Vietnamese people at the exhibition, especially in a modern installation space, is expected to interest viewers by removing the barriers of space and time. At ‘Loong Koong’, if Trinh Vu Hieu has chosen to show the ‘collision’ between pottery and folk paintings, Bui Quoc Khanh has decided to let ceramics ‘clash’ with the folk toy ‘to he’ to make impressive and original artworks. ‘To he’, a popular toy for Vietnamese children, are small, colourful figurines made from glutinous rice powder to depict heroes, ordinary people, symbolic animals like dragons or phoenixes, common animals like water buffaloes, flowers and fairies, among others. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Bui Quoc Khanh has brought to the joint exhibition 25 of his works, which are the author’s artistic interpretation of pressing and prominent events and issues in the contemporary life and society. Inspired by the folk toy ‘to he’, artist Bui Quoc Khanh has meticulously molded and breathed life into his contemporary characters made from clay, a material normally thought to be used only to produce shape-limited and fragile structures. However, Khanh’s works are both weird and funny, yet reflecting a unique personality and context, which open up viewers’ imagination. His ceramic works demonstrate remarkable feats and meticulousness via countless details divided into layers, successive elements of shapes, and a range of colours. However, they still retain their Vietnamese identity. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Focusing on conveying pressing and prominent events and issues in the contemporary life and society, each sophisticated ceramic artwork by Bui Quoc Khanh on display is a bit weird and a bit funny with its own personality and context, prompting visitors to have their own interpretations. The ceramic works by Bui Quoc Khanh always impress the audience with their individuality and originality, as he often places many details of his creations in precarious and risky positions to arouse viewers’ emotions. While their Vietnamese identity is sustained, Khanh’s ceramic works demonstrate remarkable feats and meticulousness via countless details divided into layers, successive elements of shapes, and a wide range of colours. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Many of Bui Quoc Khanh’s works feature a harmonious combination of ceramics and LED lighting. Sometimes, there are even copper wire, cloth, bamboo and gravel to create a ‘Thuong tang’ (Superior – the name of the work in the picture) structure. While “loong koong” is the sound of ceramic pieces slightly hitting each other, the exhibition of Trinh Vu Hieu and Bui Quoc Khanh is a quirky harmony between ceramics and diverse Vietnamese traditional culture. The rare encounter of the two artists, who both are greatly inspired by traditional Vietnamese folk culture, presents an enticing opportunities for art lovers to experience their creativity at one place. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

“I hope that as Vietnamese, we should pay attention to and keep an eye on traditional culture so that we can live with, love and exploit what we already have,” shared artist Trinh Vu Hieu. The exhibition “Loong koong” is open free of charge to the public from December 8, 2021 to February 15, 2022 at the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA), B1-R3 Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. Introducing nearly 50 ceramic works, the contemporary ceramic installation is a rare encounter between the two creative artists and a reflection of contemporary Vietnamese culture and society where the contrasts between the past, present, and future as well as between old and new values are co-existing. (Photo: VietnamPlus)