A Controlled Collapse – Abstract Artworks by Vanha Lam

One of the most appealing aspects about abstract art for me is the how malleable the style is aesthetically. A good piece of abstract art can stand the test of time. Let’s face it, the placement of form and colour can never get old, but there’s a missing component that’s not often discussed; ambiguity.

Art is a mind and body experience, and abstraction harnesses one of the main attributes that makes you look deeper and ponder the artist’s real intention. This is why Vanha Lam’s work was so impressive, a New York based artist who seems to build a framework and then finds way in which to break it. Masterfully balancing between order and chaos.

Although not formally trained, Vanha Lam’s goal is to build on the concepts that her background in architecture and design gave her. Lam shows that having a breadth of knowledge spanning many different areas gives you creative sources to pull from and really sets your work apart.

I am drawn to her theme of ‘folding’. Knowing her background in architecture makes her experimentation with form obvious, but there’s also something regenerative and spiritual about this crunching and warping, with forms overlapping and almost swallowing themselves. Lam calls it a “controlled collapse”, which makes perfect sense. It’s also a great interpretation of the creative process itself. A controlled collapse to build yourself back up again.

Here are a few of my favourite pieces from Vanha Lam’s portfolio. See more from her on her portfolio linked below.

vanhalam.com

BECOME A PART OF OUR DESIGN JOURNEY

Special discounts on OEN Shops curated collection

• Exclusive behind-the-scenes content
• Early access to content from our OEN publication
• Deep dive into design concepts
• Curated guides to the worlds top art and design cities