Cho Nhau Nụ Cười & Niềm Tin

About A Vietnamese-American Female Painter Michelle Pham

By VĨNH LIÊM

Michelle Pham’s Vietnamese name is Pham Thi Thu Loan. Currently, Thu Loan lives with her extended family in Falls Church, Virginia, USA. To learn more, I learned that Thu Loan was born in Saigon in the autumn of 1960. As a child, Thu Loan lived and studied in District III of Saigon. When she was a teenager, Thu Loan was passionate about painting even though she knew that she was not very gifted. But Thu Loan was still confident, so she studied at a drawing center at the age of 18. After that, Thu Loan studied oil painting landscapes. In 1980, Thu Loan attended the Music and Painting Pedagogy class. After graduating, Thu Loan taught secondary school drawing at Huynh Khuong Ninh High School in District I, Saigon. In 1986, Thu Loan studied fine arts at the University of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City. Thu Loan finished her second year of study, then dropped out because she had to take care of the documents to go to the US to reunite with her family in 1990.

In the US, Thu Loan, now Michelle Pham, continued to study painting and chose the field of Abstraction at George Mason University, graduating from BA Art Studio in 2000. Michelle said the reason: Because she likes drawing style by Picasso, a painting genius of the world about Cubism. Michelle did not choose Cubism but chose Abstract painting! After getting married and having children, Michelle Pham quit teaching drawing at Catholic Corpus Christi school because of loss of hearing.

“Abstract” in French is “abstrait”. In addition, there is another term for “abstract” art, which is “non-figurative art” (English) and “art non-figuratif” (French), meaning “non-physical art” or non-visual art, used in contrast to “figurative art/art figuratif” it mean “art with form” or figurative art. Abstract Art is a trend in painting and sculpture in the 20th century. Abstract Art seeks to break away from the traditional representation of material objects. It explores the relationships of forms and colors, while traditional art represents the world in recognizable images. Thus, Abstract art means art that is not representative but explores color and form. More broadly, Abstract art is non-figurative art, non-objective art, and non-representational art, which are terms closely related to each other. They are similar, but perhaps not identical in meaning. Abstraction shows a departure from reality in the depiction of images in art. Abstract Art and abstract faction is a painting movement in the early 20th century, in the years 1910 to 1914. Abstract art uses visual language from shapes, patterns, colors and lines to create a work that can exist independently, to some extent, with the real references from the world. Western art, from the Renaissance to the mid-19th century, was grounded by the logic of perspective and attempts to recreate an illusion of the real world. Meanwhile, art from other non-European fine arts is accessible and shows other ways to describe the visual experience to the artist.

(Source: Abstract art paintings_Internet)

Abstract Art shows us a departure from reality in the image description of fine art. Abstraction exists in a continuum. Abstract artwork can freely change in color and form, it can be said to be partially abstract. Complete abstraction is the absence of any trace of any actual reference that we can perceive. In geometric abstraction, one cannot find direct references to natural entities.

(Source: Completely abstract paintings_ Internet) Thus, Abstraction is the art movement that dominated the world throughout the 20th century. But when we look at Abstract works, we cannot find any visible objects in the real world (in real life). It can be said that Abstract art has moved from simulation to a pure form of emotion. This art is the voice of very separate personalities belonging to the colorful subconscious world. Thus, the abstract painter is free to create very free drawings, allowing his/her deep sensitivity, his/her unconsciousness, to express his/her paintings as he/she wishes. In short, Abstract art allows the artist to see in his/her mind what he/she cannot see with the naked eye. In Abstract, everything is acceptable and there are no rules. So, the artist uses line, shape, color, texture, nuance, movement, rhythm, repetition, balance, variation, proportion, contrast, etc. very comfortable. Abstraction also has many forms: pure abstraction, semi-abstract, or abstract body shape, also known as new shape, typically Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) Dutch painter. Physical abstraction, also known as Transcendental tendency/ Transcendentalism (typically Kazimir Maclevich, 1879-1935), or color spread art - a form of action art - classic pictured is Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) who was a pioneer of American abstract art. Piet Mondrian Kazimir Maclevich Jackson Pollock Going deeper, we see that there are two trends in the School of Abstraction, that is geometric abstraction and lyrical abstraction. (Source: Geometric abstraction paintings_Internet) Lyrical abstraction not only does not represent the “seen” world, but also does not use clear shapes. Each Abstract painter creates his/her own language and style. Therefore, the expression of the artist’s emotions and personality is not bound by any theory or rule. That is why lyrical abstract works often create a feeling of freedom and “adventure”.

(Source: Lyrical abstraction paintings_Internet) It is recommended to learn about the difference between Cubism and Abstract faction to help people enjoy Michelle Pham’s paintings more easily. The love of art for Picasso (Cubism) made Michelle Pham decide to study and paint Abstract paintings, although some of Michelle’s paintings are still painted in a different way. Cubism is a style and movement of the early 20th century in art, especially painting, in which perspective with a single point of view was eliminated and using simple geometric shapes, interlocking planes, and then collage.