Hom Nguyen exhibits art reflecting family history in Belgium
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Franco-Vietnamese artist Hom Nguyen presented his work for the first time in Belgium, with exhibitions in Tournai and Knokke.
Florence Rasson opened her art gallery in Tournai eighteen years ago, and later expanded with a second location. Nguyen, born in 1972 and based in Paris, grew up with a mother who fled Vietnam as a boat person and later became paraplegic after a car accident. He became her caretaker and sought to bring joy to her life.
His art developed from a need to support them both and express his frustration with prejudice. Nguyen now uses his art to convey optimism and resilience, depicting expressive faces that range from joyful to contemplative. The exhibitions feature around twenty works at each location, created with materials like charcoal, felt-tip pen, gouache, oil, and even pen. His pieces often feature faces emerging from backgrounds of flowers or light, and include depictions of hands and masks.
One piece shows a young boy emerging from darkness, with water cascading from his arms in a display of color. Nguyen works on large canvases, alternating between quick strokes for outlines and meticulous detail to convey emotion, and his art also reflects the history and enduring hope of the Vietnamese people after decades of war.
