The Vietnamese-born artist Bao Vuong is known for his monochrome seascapes painted in oil.
In his series titled The Crossing, he tells the epic story of the journey he and his family experienced while fleeing Vietnam after the war. These paintings bring us back to our inner strength, our “inner light” in the face of the dark moments of life.
For this special edition of Asia Now, Bao presents six new paintings, continuing his plastic and poetic exploration, tinged with spirituality. One of the paintings, in the shape of a large fan, is inspired by his childhood days spent waiting for customers in his parents’ restaurant, where he would spend hours gazing at traditional paintings and Asian landscapes made of silver inlay on a black lacquer background.
In two other works, Bao recalls his past when, in disbelief, he would question the ancestor rituals, especially the silver or gold papers (hàng mã) that are burned to honor the deceased and seek their blessings. These votive elements are now reinterpreted by Bao in these two paintings, illuminating his art with a new light and giving new meaning to the evocation of these nocturnal crossings.
