HÀ NỘI — An exhibition in Hà Nội titled Layers of Belonging showcases 42 new works on memory, nature and connection by artists Đặng Tố Anh and Hoàng Phương Liên.

In this exhibition, Tố Anh presents a series of works on raw silk organza, shaped by her observations of water, light, nature and memory. Meanwhile, Liên tells her own story through hundreds of thousands of torn, layered and meticulously assembled pieces of paper, creating richly coloured worlds imbued with remarkable depth.

Through their work with different materials and distinct artistic languages, they are both drawn to the familiar things that each carries within.

The exhibition creates an emotionally resonant visual dialogue that explores themes of memory and the enduring relationship between people and the spaces they inhabit.

Inspired by the concept of belonging, the exhibition explores the idea not simply as a matter of geography or origin, but as a network of subtle connections shaped over time. Those connections may be found in nature, the surrounding environment, personal relationships or the quiet experiences of everyday life that gradually shape one's identity.

While the two artists employ different materials and modes of expression, those differences do not create a divide. Instead, they form a natural point of convergence in their artistic vision.

Established artist Lê Huy Tiếp said he was deeply impressed by the extraordinarily meticulous artistic process undertaken by both artists.

"This painstaking process gives the two painters' works richly textured, highly expressive surfaces," said Tiếp.

"The two painters demonstrate keen artistic sensibilities and distinct individual approaches to the use and interplay of colour. Their innovative exploration of materials enables the works to capture deeply authentic emotions and fleeting moments of human feeling.

"The exhibition marks a significant artistic breakthrough, reflecting the willingness of a new generation of contemporary artists to push creative boundaries and embrace experimentation."

In her series Permeable Boundaries, Tố Anh presents 19 works that explore the space where painting and materiality converge, where control meets spontaneity, and where memory intertwines with the present.

She uses a marbling technique known as ebru art. In this creative process, water is more than a medium – it becomes a co-creator. Each movement of the water can produce unexpected transformations, allowing every work to bear both the artist's personal imprint and the spontaneity and organic qualities of nature.

While Tố Anh's paintings are shaped by the fluid movement of water, Liên constructs her works through the meticulous layering of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of tiny paper fragments.

 

After years of experimenting with printmaking, woodcuts, oil painting, gouache and a wide range of other media, Liên chose handmade coloured paper as her primary artistic language. Each piece of paper is torn diagonally, horizontally or vertically before being meticulously assembled to create form, tonal variation and depth across the surface of the work.

The exhibition runs until August 20 at Galeries Du Futur, 54 Liễu Giai Street. — VNS