The “Dreaming” exhibition highlights the artistic work of To Ngoc Trang, featuring 26 unique portraits made from broken ceramics set against a lacquer backdrop.

To Ngoc Trang recently debuted his solo presentation, titled Dreaming, at Area 75 – Art & Auction.

This exhibition includes 26 portraits created from ceramic mosaic fragments. The artworks portray significant figures from various disciplines, such as Buddha, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, physicist Albert Einstein, Russian writer Lev Tolstoy, Vietnamese artist Bui Xuan Phai, and literary characters Chi Pheo and Thi No from Vietnamese stories.

Among his creations is a self-portrait composed of pieces from a shattered bowl, adding a personal dimension to the exhibition.

“In late 2021, my wife accidentally broke a beautiful bowl, and she asked me to repair it,” Trang recounted. “As I examined the fragments, I felt a unique connection to them. I started arranging the shards to form my face, and people immediately recognized me. What began as a playful activity turned into a passion for transforming broken ceramics into art.”

Trang’s artwork emphasizes the strength and adaptability of ceramic pieces. He perceives these fragments, with their inherent randomness, as having the same expressive potential as traditional materials like watercolor, oil, or lacquer. His creative method avoids mechanical manipulation, instead harnessing the natural forms of the fragments to convey his artistic vision.

The exhibition has garnered acclaim from art lovers for Trang’s creativity.

Fellow artist Phan Cam Thuong commented, “To Ngoc Trang’s mosaic works challenge conventional techniques. He explores human experiences, including struggles, fragments, and eventual healing. Similar to broken ceramics, individuals reshape their lives, finding unique beauty through perseverance.”

Featured works include portraits of:

Buddha
Margaret Thatcher
Michael Jackson
Albert Einstein
Stephen Hawking
Tran Quoc Tuan (Hung Dao Dai Vuong)
Chi Pheo, Thi No, and Lao Hac from Vietnamese literature
John Lennon
Steve Jobs
Vincent Van Gogh

The exhibition will be open until January 19.