Toccata Vuoto

“Toccata Vuoto” is a faithful representation of a blackhole amidst a colorful and vigorous universe, which is also a reminder dear to the artist’s heart: the impermanent nature of everything. Each dot represents a celestial body whose light reaches us long after its demise, and in the middle lies a black hole – a celestial entity that we cannot see yet know that it exists, that gives them the rhythm to the whole galaxy. Each of us was made from star matter, thus we have inside us a universe where life and death is intertwined, coexisting. We’re both incredibly unique and special, yet so insignificant, like a sand in the ocean of vast universe. Like what Marcus Aurelius once said, “Asia and Europe are corners in the Universe; every sea, a drop in the Universe; Mount Athos, a clod of earth in the Universe; every instant of time, a pin-prick of eternity.” (36th verse, book XI, “Meditations”) Then what is the meaning of this fleeing life? We ought to seek the answer within ourselves.

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(*) TOCCATA VUOTO (Chạm vào hư vô) - the name for this mini-series which comprises of 4 paintings. Toccata, rooted in the Italian “Toccare”, means “to touch”, also representing a musical form for keyboard instruments, written in a free style that is characterized by full chords, rapid runs, high harmonies, and other virtuoso elements designed to show off the performer's “touch.” And Vuoto is the Italian equivalent to “Void” in English. This is the artist’s symphony, exploring various states of emptiness in our mortal life.