Description
‘Awaken’ by Phuong Nguyen
Artist: Phuong Nguyen
Title: ‘Awaken’
Medium: Watercolour and Matte Black Gouache on Fabriano Paper 300gsm
Dimensions: 17.3” x 12.8” (Paper Size: 19.7” x 15”)
Framing: Framed in Giltwood Frame
Year of Creation: 2018
Artwork Will Ship From: Italy
About the Artist:
“Behind ‘Awaken’ as well as my other artworks lay a philosophy about darkness of the Far East, which was explained and coined in the an essay on Japanese aesthetics called ‘In praise of shadow’ by Japanese novelist Junichiro Tanizaki. The inspiration of this painting come from Ikebana (生け花) – the art of flower arrangement, one of the 3 classical arts of refinement in Japan. Ikebana also means ‘living flower’ and this practice usually emphasize on simplicity and structure, aiming to let the arrangement, the flower speaks directly to the viewers without needing the use of words. It is also a discipline art form to discover the inner balance, where human and nature intertwined, coexist. Ikebana is also the art of ‘darkness’, because it is usually put in an alcove, almost never under exposure of strong light, to imply the harmony of yin and yang, between the living creatures and the stillness of shadows. Rather than just a decorative piece, I also strive to provide a spiritual feeling to the artwork by giving the flowers a ‘life’ by making them human, awaken from a long sleep the moment they are put in the vase to become more than just a flower, but rather an embodiment of a philosophy.” – Phuong Nguyen
About the Artist:
Phuong Nguyen, also known as Jacquell, is a Vietnamese self-taught painter from Saigon and currently living in Bologna, Italy.
Her artworks are exclusively created with watercolor on paper.
Her passion for details and delicate brush strokes comes from the long-time influence from classical Japanese comics that has nurtured her creativity since a very young age. Being a strong visual learner, she develops her techniques from learning through various sources such as watercolor old masters, Japanese wood block prints, Thangka – Tibetan Buddhist scroll paintings, and from the surrounding nature itself. Set in a dark yet poetic world, Jacquell’s works truly embrace the harmonic bond between human and nature – the role of beautiful coexistence in a world where reciprocity is at drought.
Spending most of her recent years as a foreigner, Phuong has taken the privilege to experience herself to various cultures. She successfully maintains the refinements of traditional Asian art without eliminating the contemporary Western narratives. Delicacy, femininity and fluidity are the core sensations of her works. Her main subjects revolve around women, flora and insects. They’re often intertwined or fused together to embody subtle, clandestine yet powerful messages.