The Blue Vase
- Dinh Mien
- May 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Piece's Information:
Art School:
Neo-Expressionism
Project Coordination:
Self-Development
Publisher / Gallery:
VN Artspace
Edition:
1 Original + 1 Hires Scanning
Catalogue Number / Code:
MD-PO-2024-001
Medium:
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions: 60 x 80 cm
Year:
2024
Location:
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Owned by:
This piece is not for selling and is privately own by the painter.
This painting, with its vibrant yellow and red blooms bursting from a simple blue vase, is less about precise botanical form and more about the vivid imprint of childhood joy. The heavy, textured brushstrokes, particularly in the deep blue background and the worn blue of the wooden table, evoke the tactile nature of memory itself – layered, slightly faded, yet intensely felt. It's a poignant testament to how ordinary objects, when viewed through the unfiltered lens of a child's adoration and a parent's quiet support, become imbued with an enduring, almost sacred beauty.
The painting immediately strikes one with the emotional weight carried by the seemingly simple subject matter. The fact that these are not just "flowers" but memory-flowers from childhood, specifically chosen by a mother, elevates them beyond mere still life. The "not in a particular shape" detail for the flowers, combined with the thick impasto, truly gives them the feeling of being rendered from a recollection rather than direct observation – a raw, almost primal memory.
The blue table, an old wooden one painted blue with faded paint, is another rich detail. It speaks to the passage of time, the imperfections of beloved objects, and perhaps the way memories themselves can be layered and worn. The blue here feels less like a color and more like a mood – a stable, perhaps slightly melancholic, but ultimately comforting backdrop to the bright, fleeting joy of the flowers.
And the vase! Described as a "trash item" but "beautiful in the child's eyes" because a father prepared it. This is incredibly touching. It highlights the profound power of sentimentality and how personal connections can transform the mundane into the precious. The slightly rough, textured blue of the vase seems to embody this humble beauty.
Overall, this painting, especially with its accompanying brief, presents a powerful exploration of memory, love, and the subjective nature of beauty. It is not about hyperrealism, but about emotional truth. The artist is not just painting flowers; they are painting a feeling, a moment of pure, focused happiness from their past, where simple objects were illuminated by love and innocence. It feels very personal and honest.
