Chinh Le has once again embarked upon a deeply meditative and spiritual journey as she looks back on her life and contemplates the forces that have shaped and guided her life on the path.
A devout Zen Buddhist with a lifelong investigation into the teachings of Buddha and other notable Zen masters has instilled in the artist a deep appreciation of simply being present, living each moment with quiet reflection whilst being intensely aware.
With the TET holiday in mind, thinking about the cyclical nature of life and the interconnectedness of man and nature, she began to create works that while expressing her own personal journey, could also be viewed as the universal path of mankind.
A master of many mediums, the artist chose to make 7 large oil paintings that depict the evolution of humans in life as we go through our trials and tribulations, our joys and our sorrows and learn to respect the past, live in the present and look forward to the future.
Each painting has a deep spiritual content that questions why and how we live. All are linked to the teachings of Buddha and to the 5 elements of nature and their corresponding colors, expressing this irreducible bond between man and nature, as man comes from nature and returns. So many challenges await us as we go through this journey of life but as the artist has discovered, If the student is ready, the Master will come.
This student is more than ready. Chinh Le has spent her entire career not only experimenting with all kinds of mediums, such as natural pigment on Do paper, woodblock prints, silk, lacquer, painting and sculpture, computer generated images collaged with sculpture, proving a mastery in all, but she has also spent a lifetime studying Buddhist scriptures, ancient philosophy and literature to inform her ideas and spiritual practice.
Accompanying the paintings Chinh Le has composed a game of life, Tic Tac Toe, large X and O cast in bronze to be played with the accompanying 12 bronze animals of the Zodiac. The artist instills in each sculpture the animal’s unique identifying characteristics with humor and compassion. There is a strong interplay between the paintings, sculpture and game which challenges the viewer to look deeply at life, to rest in the silence and to be present with what is. Patience, adaptability and acceptance are the path to peace.
Art Vietnam Gallery is honored to be working with the 11:11 Espace team on this presentation of one of our most esteemed artists. Their emphasis on developing a community art space, focusing on education, workshops and interactions with artists from the international art community combined with all aspects of culture, music, literature, and dance presents a forum to make art accessible to all. We applaud their efforts and are so happy to be a part of this admirable effort.
Please come and join us in yet another journey of life as seen through the eyes of the quintessentially unique, humble and yet profound artist, Chinh Le.
Suzanne Lecht
Art Director
Art Vietnam Gallery
