In Le Kinh Tai’s works, the tò he (toy figurine) emerges as a recurring character – one with a gigantic head, a huge set of teeth, and a smile that takes up most of its face. These tò he do not only appear in his paintings, but also step outside of them and become autonomous sculptural works, seamlessly integrating into the exhibition space. Like the tò he made from rice powder and dyed with natural colors, Le Kinh Tai’s own figurines are also colorful and vibrant in various shades of red and blue, yet they assume different forms and sensibilities. Whereas rice powder tò he are innocent and immobile, Le Kinh Tai’s tò he are “restless”. In these works, the tò he at times sink their enormous heads, or raise them to observe life and to break out a grin, or twist and turn their necks as they walk. This is also the reason why many find Le Kinh Tai’s works innocuous, others interpret them as pointed social commentary.
(Edited from text excerpts provided by Ngu Yen)