LE TRIEU DIEN

I grew up in the Mekong Delta region that converges many cultures like Chan Lap, Cham, Khmer, Chinese and Vietnamese. Traces of war, reclamation, the opening of lands, building villages, establishing pagodas, living places of each region and each ethnic group are emotions condensed in each stroke of memory.– Le Trieu Dien

Le Trieu Dien’s ‘memory’ is not only a personal recollection of his upbringing, but also a ‘cultural memory’ of the development of the delta region. Ben Tre Province, Le Trieu Dien’s hometown, is one of the twelve provinces that comprise the Southwest Delta. Although the colonial period and decades of war have left the artist with unhealed wounds, the artist often wishes to record the gifts of Nature and the treasures of ethnic culture on canvas.

In the ‘Mekong Delta’ series, the artist relates his feelings to the region’s historical changes and social life. Rivers full of alluvium flow through mountains, lakes, and vast fields, continuing many cultures and ethnic groups on domain regions. The integrating blue, green, purple and red, brown and yellow blocks in the background of the work epitomise the changing mornings and seasons in the Delta. And the unusual shapes and symbols are a collection of boats and boatmen in the Non-La, rice fields and orchards bordered by rivers, the floating markets with their crowds of people, the Buddhist temples and houses clinging to the riverbank.

Le found his inspiration from ancient characters, motifs, and decors found on cultural relics and ancient architectures. Although their meanings have long been lost, they still permeate everyday life in the south, from rock art, religious architectural motifs to souvenir patterns. By transforming these images on the edge of oblivion into his creative vocabulary, the artist has created an alternative for them to be perpetuated beyond the promotion and marketing of cultural tourism. In Mekong 5, for example, the stacked squares embedded with symbols act as a treasure box representing the multi-ethnic culture of the Mekong River.

In the series ‘To the West’, the artist depicts the joys and sorrows of the expatriate children he meets on his travels. The colour is drawn from different countries and regions’ religions, cultural life, and traditional dress. Meanwhile, the vivid memories may come from the colours of the vast rivers, the early morning dewdrops on the country roads or the bustling oars of the boats at dawn.

On the narrative aspect, The composition is akin to how a memory flashes through one’s mind–a particular image, person, or object emerging from a blurred and fragmented scene. Layers, transitions, and balance are achieved by alternating and layering similar and contrasting colours. The artist prefers to capture the feelings that accompany the memory rather than the event itself.

On the emotional level, Le Trieu Dien’s works are interwoven like a chain of memories that flickers, sometimes appears indifferent, occasionally furious, stacked together into layers. He follows his intuition and records his state of mind as faithfully as possible. Through the bold colours and rich brushstrokes on canvas, the viewer can perceive that the artist, in his seventies, still has a passion for nature and life through his childlike sensitivity and curiosity.

The recurring covid-19 pandemic of the past two years have cast a shadow over global developments, leaving one with a strong concern for the present and future of humanity. Yet, despite being immersed in an atmosphere of fear, frustration and sadness, LE Trieu Dien hopes to bring a sense of strength and optimism with his vibrant and rhythmic works, encouraging viewers to feel and capture the beautiful hues of life and memory.