The Fluid" is not simply an exhibition of works, the exhibition attracts attention because of its special structure: an artistic flow created by two generations with two almost opposite views of the world.
As soon as you step into the display space, viewers can easily recognize the strong contrast between the works. While artist Dao Anh Khanh continues to pursue images of human instinct, the universe, proliferation and natural energy, the works of painter Dao Anh Tho (stage name CAT) open up a different world: surreal images, where humans, technology and future imagination intertwine in a universe that she calls "MetaReverse", a concept she herself came up with to describe a "Rebirth Universe" - where the beauty of humans, nature and the obsession with technology coexist.
The notable highlight of the exhibition is the large-sized lacquer paintings of CAT, the work reaches a size of 3.6m × 4.8m. In the context of contemporary Vietnamese painting, it is rare for a young artist to choose lacquer, a traditional material that requires complex techniques and long processing time for such large-sized paintings.
The layers of color are polished and continuously overlapped, creating a surface that is both deep and reflects light and dark patches that change according to the perspective. The painting space therefore feels both classic and futuristic, like a moving world.
Artist Dao Anh Tho said that when CAT wanted to tell the story of "MetaReverse", a world of cruel and beautiful intersection between humans, nature and the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), ordinary 80x100cm picture frames became too cramped.
Psychological traumas, struggling to escape the guise of a financial expert, and thousands of surreal ideas of hers need a "scene" large enough to explode.
Three giant paintings standing majestically in the museum like three space gates, swallowing the audience's gaze, forcing them to look up and face their own tinyness before the dominance of technology and the deep layers of human consciousness.
In addition to large-sized works, the exhibition also introduces 15 paintings by CAT with dimensions of 1.68m x 1.2m, arranged in parallel with typical works by artist Dao Anh Khanh. This arrangement creates a dialogue display space, where the works of the two artists are placed next to each other but still retain their own rhythm and personality.
The exhibition is also a rare opportunity for the public to witness two generations of artists in the same family appearing in a common creative space.
If on Dao Anh Khanh's side is a journey of more than three decades associated with contemporary art, highlighted by large-scale installation and performance projects, then on Dao Anh Tho's side is a source of youthful creative energy, rich in experimentation.
Therefore, "Dòng chảy đột biến" does not only stop at a painting exhibition, but also suggests a meeting between two approaches to art: one is the experience accumulated through many decades of creative practice, the other is the journey to find a unique language for the new generation of artists.
The exhibition is held from March 13 to March 20, 2026 at the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum.
