2:14:04 PM | 5/11/2026
Nearly 70 remarkable paintings created on cowhide, a rare and difficult surface in contemporary art, will be unveiled to the public in “A Rendezvous Beyond Seasons”, the latest solo exhibition by Dr. Trịnh Thắng. The material's absorbent texture, unpredictable bleeding, and irreversible transformations compel the artist into an absolute state of stillness, without hesitation, correction, or retreat, during the creative act.
A Rendezvous Beyond Seasons: Continuing a Journey of Consciousness
From “Void” to “Resonance from the Void”, and later “Breath of Bodhi”, Dr. Trịnh Thắng’s artistic journey moved from opening pathways to manifestation to the grand culmination of form itself. Then came “A Rendezvous Beyond Seasons”, a complete rupture from that trajectory. No recognizable imagery remains. Nothing is left to cling to. If sacred forms once served as gateways, this time the gateway itself vanishes. What remains is a subtle field where the viewers move from seeing to perceiving.
Speaking about the exhibition’s theme, Dr. Trịnh Thắng shared: “The ‘season’ is not a season of time, but a stage of consciousness - a message from those who have ‘arrived’ to those still walking the path. Not to repeat, but to continue forward without turning back. Just walk. Keep walking. And you will see.”
The artist shared that “Primal Horse - Essence Unbound,” the horse painting series unveiled in March 2026, emerged right after the leather series. It felt like the grand finale of “A Rendezvous Beyond Seasons,” a moment when every boundary vanished and pure innocence, freedom, and joy came rushing in.
Leather as Medium: From the Finite to Transformation and Transcendence
Across centuries, artists have turned to animal skin - parchment and vellum - as timeless canvases. Yet today, especially in Vietnam, witnessing cowhide transformed into nearly 70 monumental paintings in a single exhibition is a striking rarity. “A Rendezvous Beyond Seasons” boldly centers on cowhide, embracing its wild unpredictability. The living veins, organic absorbency, and shifting patterns invite the artist to relinquish control and pour full presence into every stroke.
For Trịnh Thắng, this material choice transcends aesthetics. He describes it as a karmic convergence. Gifted the hides, he pledged to approach the series with sacred intent, seeking transformation and awakening a spiritual realm from something finite.
The significance of this series is further illuminated by painter Lương Xuân Đoàn, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, who reflected on the work: “Strange ideas circle endlessly around Trịnh Thắng, never once releasing him. Perhaps that is why, whenever they return, he unleashes storms that collide violently with the eyes of you and me. His promise to Heaven and to Humanity is never fully satisfied. This new game upon cowhide becomes a percussion instrument carrying incantatory rhythms, extending endlessly into distant unknown realms…”
When Painting Becomes a “Spiritual Practice”
What sets this exhibition apart is its meditative approach to creation. Trịnh Thắng begins each piece with his own sketches and finishing touches, while his students lay down the first washes of color in a ritual of discipline. The artist then weaves these layers together, transforming them into a harmonious, unified vision.
Most paintings emerged in a single day, untouched by hesitation or second thoughts, each one a testament to unwavering dedication. When these completed works are finally unified by what the artist calls “a pure heart,” they reach a state of total resonance, where all traces of separation dissolve.
In this space, painting moves beyond mere depiction and becomes a lived experience, shedding all ties to form, method, or self. What remains is a return to innocence, freedom, and pure joy.
The exhibition welcomes the public at Vietnam Art House, 16 Ngô Quyền Street, Hanoi, from May 10 to May 26, 2026 and later at: Center for Arts & Culture, 22 Hàng Buồm Street, Hanoi, from May 29 to June 21, 2026.
T.H (Vietnam Business Forum)
