Exhibition celebrates southern painting

VietNamNet Bridge - The city’s largest exhibition this year, featuring 187 paintings and sculptures, is on display at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum for the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Ha Noi.

The exhibit includes a variety of traditional and contemporary artefacts created by veteran and young artists in the south.

Uyen Huy, chairman of the HCM City Fine Arts Association, said all of the showcase’s works are the results of nine creative camps launched by the association this year.

He said that he hoped the event would be warmly received.

"Our artists travelled around the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta region to find a new source of inspiration, capturing the beauty of daily life."

"People can see contemporary southern Viet Nam being portrayed with a new vigour and passion. But the region’s traditional values are still overwhelmingly there," he said.

One display contains sculpture and painting that won the year’s best works presented by the association.

Tran Mai Quoc Khanh’s Nhip Song, a sculpture on wood, took home the 2010 Fine Arts Award’s first prize.

Phuong Quoc Tri took home the second prize with his oil painting, Ngay Tho (Innocence).

The third prize was shared by Le Lang Bien, Do Minh Hieu and Nguyen Hoai Huyen Vu, who created their works on mixed media.

All of the prize-winning works highlight people in life and work.

The show includes new works by veteran sculptors and painters such as Nguyen Thanh Minh, Huynh Phuong Dong, Trang Phuong and Pham Do Dong, who portrayed the image of Ha Noi and its people in their art.

Younger artists Tran Mai Huu Quy, Nguyen Tri Minh Tuyet and Nguyen Thu Huong have sent their favourite works to the event.

Huong’s canvas Khong Gian (Space) and Quy’s scuplture Xach Nuoc Mien Dong (Carrying Water with a Shoulder Pole) are two of the most impressive works, which present simple scenes of daily life.

Female sculptor Nguyen Thi To Uyen is represented by her work on wood Phu Nu Mong (Mong Women).

Visitors said they had been able to learn about the south’s culture and people through the exhibit.

"Our association has worked to encourage and support young talents in new art trends," said Huy, adding that he hoped more organisations would be involved in sponsoring the association’s activities.

Founded in 1979, the HCM City Fine Arts Association attracts 700 members. It is a familiar address for foreign and local artists, critics, art researchers and art enthusiasts.

The exhibition, which runs until October 30, is on display at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in District 1.

Source: VNS