Portrait: Dinh Y Nhi & Le Thiet Cuong

About

Dinh Y Nhi is widely recognised as one of the few female artists in Vietnam to have acquired a reputation that extends beyond the bounds of her country. Born in Hanoi in 1967, Nhi studied at the University of Fine Arts in Hanoi to graduate as a professional artist in 1989, although she began painting when she was just 14 years old, initially being taught by her parents. Largely influenced by Asian Art rather than western art, she cites Chinese calligraphy and African Art as being primary sources to have had an impact on her style and technique. Nhi primarily explores the role of the female within Vietnamese society. As a woman in a country dominated by male artists, her work is uncompromising and challenging; by choosing to deviate from the more commercial, lyrical forms of creative expression widely represented by her contemporaries, she instead opts to pursue a concept which makes her practice fragile and dislocated, unusual and interesting on various levels. Le Thiet Cuong, now almost 50 years old has established a firm and international reputation as a highly distinctive master of minimalism. Graduating in set design and animation from Hanoi's State Film College in 1990 after previously working as state paid cartographer, Cuong's interest stretch far wider than art alone. Recognised as an art critic and respected as an analyst, philosopher and poet, Cuong is a highly intelligent individual. As a self taught artist through turbulent and isolated years in Vietnam, access to artist materials and western books were limited during Cuong's years of learning. At that time in Vietnam, Impressionism and Expressionism were very much favoured, yet Cuong persisted in breaking away from the rules of convention to eventually receive western recognition. Both artists are featured in the current exhibition at Apricot Gallery, open until February the 18th.