Beguiled by Chinese art, Russian opens exhibition in Vietnam
Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 16:46 GMT+7
A Russian artist who is besotted with Chinese calligraphy and ink wash paintings is showcasing his works of art in Vietnam for the first time.
Twenty-four ink wash paintings created by Aleksandr Zhuravlev are on display at the Peony & Iris art gallery in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.
His exhibition, titled ‘Breath of Brush,’ is set to wrap up on Sunday.
His first display in Vietnam has been drawing public attention.
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| A painting by Aleksandr Zhuravlev shows domestic tranquility. Photo: Huynh Vy / Tuoi Tre |
Passionate interest in East Asian culture
Zhuravlev had a fondness for painting when he was young. He often drew cartoon characters, animals, and portraits of his friends and relatives.
With his passion for Wing Chun, China’s concept-based martial art, he started learning about Chinese culture and philosophy several years ago.
He joined some cultural clubs in Moscow to gain knowledge about the art of the tea ceremony, Qigong, or a system of coordinated body-posture and movement, breathing, and meditation, painting, and calligraphy.
In 2000, Zhuravlev began to thoroughly study Chinese calligraphy and painting styles, while practicing Wing Chun with Vietnamese martial arts master Tran Hau Tuan.
Cross-border love for art has turned the Russian artist into a teacher of Chinese calligraphy and painting.
Many of his artworks have been included in private collections in Russia, China, the United States, Italy, Austria, Britain, and Vietnam.
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| Russian artist Aleksandr Zhuravlev (C) is pictured expressing his happiness and sending gratitude to his Vietnamese friends for their support during his first exhibition in Vietnam. Photo: Huynh Vy / Tuoi Tre |
Destined for East Asian culture, Zhuravlev has occasionally traveled to Vietnam and made friends with several Wing Chun students.
Among them is Phung Thi Thu Thuy, the owner of the Peony & Iris art gallery. She helped him open the ‘Breath of Brush’ exposition.
For Zhuravlev, ink wash paintings and calligraphy have strong magnetism, and have inspired numerous artists worldwide.
Through his ink wash paintings and calligraphic works, his entire feelings and experience can be shown clearly.
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| A painting titled ‘Moon Rabbit’ by Aleksandr Zhuravlev. Photo: Huynh Vy / Tuoi Tre |
Spreading joy and positivity
Among the 24 paintings exhibited in Vietnam, some were painted by Zhuravlev seven or eight years ago.
His works of art honor exultation and positivity, focusing on depicting East Asia’s traditional beauty, household relationship, and friendship.
He quoted novelist Dostoevsky’s proverb as saying, ‘beauty will save the world,' adding that he hoped exhibition-goers would always be happy and enjoy a peaceful life.
Zhuravlev has a soul of art, and is relentlessly learning artistic skills, said Tuan.
It is so surprising to see the paintings about peonies, rabbits, cats, and sunflowers by a Russian reflect the beauty and tradition of East Asia, Thuy shared her feelings about Zhuravlev’s artworks.
Below are Aleksandr Zhuravlev’s paintings at the ongoing exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City:
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