The “Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” exhibition is a unique artistic space where traditional folk materials are masterfully explored by artist Nguyễn Đức Tín. Featuring approximately 20 paintings crafted on mosquito netting and bamboo mats, the exhibition represents a harmonious intersection of Vietnam’s cultural memories and the modern sensibilities of a young artist.
Introduction to the “Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” Exhibition
The “Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” exhibition by young artist Nguyễn Đức Tín offers a distinctive visual experience, where folk memories are revived through everyday materials: mosquito netting and bamboo mats. The approximately 20 works showcased blend contemporary painting with traditional culture, creating a familiar yet refreshingly novel aesthetic.
“Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” is not merely an art exhibition but a journey of dialogue with tradition, reflecting a young artist’s quest to reconnect with cultural roots through a creative lens. It invites audiences to pause, observe, and feel the continuity between past and present, between the deeply familiar and a wholly new perspective.
- The exhibition is held at a gallery in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
- Display period extends until July 7, with free admission.
- Ticket price: Free entry.
About Artist Nguyễn Đức Tín
Nguyễn Đức Tín (born 1991, Ho Chi Minh City) is a young artist pursuing contemporary art with a passion for exploring new materials. He stands out for his series of works on mosquito netting and bamboo mats—everyday objects tied to daily life—creating unique and innovative visual effects. Tín’s creations often draw on folk imagery, traditional games, Đông Hồ paintings, and tuồng opera, transforming them into an artistic language that breathes modernity while remaining steeped in Vietnam’s cultural memories.
Space & Display Method of the Exhibition
The exhibition space is designed consistently with a folk spirit, combining lighting and color to highlight the delicate translucency of mosquito netting, the breathability of bamboo mats, and the contrast between tradition and modernity. As light passes through layered netting, the paintings shift in tone, appearing almost alive, transforming with viewing angles and time.
Significance & Artistic Value
The “Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” exhibition is not just a dialogue between nostalgia and new creation but also an effort to rediscover and preserve national culture through simple, familiar materials. Mosquito netting and bamboo mats, everyday household items, become artistic vehicles, evoking homes, villages, childhoods, and things lost or changing. Through this, viewers are invited to reflect on their roots, sensing the continuity between past and present, tradition and modernity.
Featured Works Displayed at the Exhibition
The “Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” exhibition showcases around 20 works, all created on mosquito netting and bamboo mats. Artist Nguyễn Đức Tín skillfully layers netting (two to four layers), so when light shines through, the paintings take on a new, ethereal appearance—delicate, shimmering, and richly layered.
The centerpiece is the work *Mùng Trời, Chiếu Đất* (200 x 400 cm). On a rustic bamboo mat, a Nguyễn dynasty dragon writhes powerfully, with the character “Thọ” (longevity) above, symbolizing endurance and prosperity. The painting exudes both an ancient aura and majestic presence, captivating viewers.
Other smaller works also leave strong impressions:
- Hòa Tấu (Harmony): A vibrant spring garden scene where flute and nguyệt đàn music blend with electronic beats, creating a unique symphony of tradition and modernity.
- Bầu Cua Tôm Cá (Gourd-Crab-Shrimp-Fish): Inspired by the Tet folk game, painted over a month with three layers of netting. The multi-layered color effect immerses viewers in festive joy.
- Cờ Cá Ngựa (Horse Racing Board Game), Kịch (Drama), and works evoking Đông Hồ paintings, tuồng opera, and folk games: Rendered with youthful, lively strokes, brimming with vitality.
Each work feels like a “memory fragment,” both familiar and novel, crafting a visual journey that captivates and lingers with audiences.
“Mùng Trời Chiếu Đất” is a gentle yet profound invitation, urging viewers to pause amid life’s rush to reconnect with familiar memories they may have forgotten. For Nguyễn Đức Tín, folk materials are not just for “traditionalizing” but for reviving, creating, and helping us understand ourselves through delicate netting layers and rustic mats.
