The exhibition "Kinh Gom" (sutras and pottery) by Painter Le Thiet Cuong displays more than 40 earthen works and 13 paintings featuring Buddhist sutras in Vietnamese. It is open for the public free of charge at Gallery 39, No 39 Ly Quoc Su Street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, between October 2 and 12. Painter Le Thiet Cuong’s exhibited works combine short sutras and minimalistic sketches about human. According to Wikipedia, in Buddhism, sutras, also known as suttas, are canonical scriptures, many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings by Gautama Buddha. They are not aphoristic, but quite detailed, sometimes with repetition. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Painter Le Thiet Cuong opened an exhibition on pottery three years ago and named it “Tho Gom” (poetry and pottery) to celebrate the 15th Vietnam Poetry Day. At the 2017 exhibition, Cuong only used products of Bat Trang, Vietnam’s most famous and long-standing pottery village located in the suburbs of Hanoi. However, with Kinh Gom, the painter has added to his collection products of other traditional pottery villages, namely Huong Canh in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, Phu Lang in the northern province of Bac Ninh, and Thanh Ha in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An city. This has created diversity and better visual attraction. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The Buddhist sutras engraved on terracotta works and written on paintings on display are short, condensed, and concise. Their lengths are limited within about four or five words. The audiences can feel and interpret them according to their own personal experiences. The sutras are combined with Painter Le Thiet Cuong’s minimalistic sketches about human to form the final works. According to Wikipedia, in Buddhism, sutras, also known as suttas, are canonical scriptures, many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings by Gautama Buddha. They are not aphoristic, but quite detailed, sometimes with repetition. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Pottery products from chosen craft villages are displayed randomly next to one another to highlight their contrast and striking features. There are pots both enameled and not but having their natural gloss. With Kinh Gom, the painter uses products of Bat Trang in the capital city of Hanoi, Huong Canh in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, Phu Lang in the northern province of Bac Ninh, and Thanh Ha in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An city. In 2017, he presented to the public his “Tho Gom” (poetry and pottery) exhibition, at which only products of Bat Trang, Vietnam’s most famous and long-standing pottery village, were used. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Talking about the concept of Nirvana in Buddhism, Painter Le Thiet Cuong said he personally thinks of it as a path rather than a destination, because there is no place like that. He noted if this world is understood as an impermanent and selfless place, then it is Nirvana, adding that Nirvana is right inside each person right now. That is how Painter Le Thiet Cuong explained his idea of "Nirvana in being". The idea is among the key messages that the exhibition "Kinh Gom" (sutras and pottery) wishes to bring to its audiences in addition to a sense of tranquility. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Painter Le Thiet Cuong chose pottery clay to create art because to him, the material is a passion. He said clay has its own set of values. This abundant and naturally occurring resource, considered the basis of pottery, is mined from the Earth and ground into a powder. The powder is mixed with water and other ingredients to form the clay body. The types of clay, how it's prepared and the amount of water used vary, deciding how the final product turns out. Pottery clay needs to be moist, durable and exhibit a good amount of plasticity. This means that it's easy to mold and retains its shape. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Pottery clay somehow reflects the relationship of heaven, earth and humanity, Painter Le Thiet Cuong said, elaborating that the heaven orders the human being to play and live with the earth. The artist went on that the material connects the human being to the earth and it harmonises water and fire. This is not the first time pottery clay has been part of Cuong’s creations. In 2017, he presented to the public his “Tho Gom” (poetry and pottery) exhibition, which received a warm welcome from the audience. Only products of Bat Trang, Vietnam’s most famous and long-standing pottery village, were used for the exhibition. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
From a poet’s point of view, Vo Thi Nhung said sutras often mention the return to soil and sand, adding that the pottery clay also comes from earth. “The way Painter Le Thiet Cuong writes sutras on pottery makes me think of that point of beginning,” she said. The Buddhist sutras engaved on pottery works and written on paintings on display are short, condensed, and concise. Their lengths are limited within about four or five words. The audiences can feel and interpret them according to their own personal experiences. According to Wikipedia, in Buddhism, sutras, also known as suttas, are canonical scriptures, many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings by Gautama Buddha. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Another key part of the exhibition is the 13 gouache paintings on gauze – the material that made Cuong’s name in 15 years from 1990 to 2005. The simplicity of the fabric matches the Zen substance, with which all paintings were imbued. He drew on the inspiration from the Zen poems of such popular Vietnamese authors as Ly Thanh Tong, Tue Trung Thuong Sy, Tran Nhan Tong, and Nguyen Du. The quotes Cuong used on his painting are short, condensed, and concise, making them accessible to the public. It is also the first time that the Ly-Tran Zen poetry and Buddhist scriptures have dialogue with modern art. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Minimalistic sketches and simple colours on the gauze create a sense of calmness and tranquility for visitors to the exhibition. The simplicity of the fabric matches the Zen substance, with which all paintings were imbued. All works on display instill in visitors a simplicity and Zen-related feeling. Painter Le Thiet Cuong’s idea of "Nirvana in being" is among the key messages that the exhibition "Kinh Gom" (sutras and pottery) wishes to bring to its audiences. The art space is open for the public free of charge at Gallery 39, No 39 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, until October 12. (Photo: VNA) 
At the "Kinh Gom" (sutras and pottery) exhibition, a book of the same name by Painter Le Thiet Cuong makes its debut. According to the artist, his affair with pottery dates back from when he was a student. The young Cuong cycled to Bat Trang village every week to watch and learn how villagers made their famous pottery products step by step, from preparing the clay to shaping and firing inside a kiln. He said he is affectionate about pottery hence, his past time hobby of collecting ancient pieces of pottery from the Ly, Tran, Le, Mac, and Nguyen dynasties. To him the collection is also part of his self-learning. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Young artist Le Nguyen Nhat, Painter Le Thiet Cuong’s son, is the one who took photos of his work and designed his book "Kinh Gom" (sutras and pottery). The freshly debuted publication is designed outside of the box, with the words being out of line or distorted. Each book is sold for 500,000 VND (about 21 USD). Via the book, readers can take a look at Cuong’s pottery works and paintings featuring Buddhist sutras in Vietnamese. They combine short sutras and minimalistic sketches about human, creating a sense of tranquility. The quotes Cuong used on his painting are short, condensed, and concise, making them accessible to the public. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The book and the exhibition "Kinh Gom" (sutras and pottery) by Painter Le Thiet Cuong are welcoming visitors at Gallery 39, No 39 Ly Quoc Su, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, between October 2 and 12. With Kinh Gom, the painter uses products of Bat Trang in the capital city of Hanoi, Huong Canh in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, Phu Lang in the northern province of Bac Ninh, and Thanh Ha in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An city. Another key part of the exhibition is 13 gouache paintings on gauze – the material that made Cuong’s name in 15 years from 1990 to 2005. The simplicity of the fabric matches the Zen substance, with which all paintings were imbued. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
