Top 10 fine arts and photography events of 2018 announced

On December 27 The Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the top 10 events of the sector in 2018.

A visitor admiring the photos on display at the first-ever nude photo exhibition in Hanoi in July
A visitor admiring the photos on display at the first-ever nude photo exhibition in Hanoi in July

The top ten events are as follows:

1. Exhibition displays silk paintings and small-sized sculptures

The exhibition, opened in Hanoi on October 25, displayed more than 110 silk paintings and 93 small-sized sculptures.

The exhibits were created by 24 painters and 21 sculptors across country, those of the generations born in the 1970s until recently, who have gained certain success in the development of silk paintings and small-sized sculptures.

2. Former Indochina Fine Arts College’s first female graduate work displayed

The Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum hosted an exhibition showcasing 27 silk paintings and photos by female painter Le Thi Luu (1911 – 1988), the first Vietnamese woman to graduate from Indochina Fine Arts College (now the Hanoi Fine Arts University).

All paintings, which were created from 1940 to 1988 when she lived and worked in France, were donated to the museum by Tan, Luu’s nephew Le Tat Luyen and his wife Thuy Khue in Paris this year.

3. 120 Vietnamese and foreign artists attend Hanoi March Connecting

Top 10 fine arts and photography events of 2018 announced ảnh 1

120 Vietnamese and foreign artists attend Hanoi March Connecting

120 artists from Vietnam and 18 other countries and territories took part in a series of art events as part of Hanoi March Connecting 2018, which was held in Hanoi from March 25 to April 4 by Asia Art Link and the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts.

Initiated in 2016, the event serves as a rendezvous for lecturers and students of art schools in Vietnam, as well as international artists, to meet and exchange experiences.

4. Caricature contest responds to fight against corruption

A caricature exhibition themed “Preventing and combating corruption” was organised from November 22 to December 5 at the Vietnam Women’s Museum.

The 158 works on display were selected from nearly 520 entries sent to the contest of the same name, which was launched in June by the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition for both professional and amateur cartoonists.

5. Series of event spotlight ‘Nghe’ - Vietnamese traditional sacred animal

A series of activities were staged nationwide to spotlight ‘Nghe’ (a sacred and mythical animal in Vietnamese traditional culture).

The events aim to promote the unique features of the traditional art of Vietnam that has been preserved in the community for centuries. It also aims to raise awareness of the sacred symbol while comparing it with other sacred animals from China, Japan and Korea – countries with similar culture and religion to Vietnam.

6. Art space inaugurated inside National Assembly House

A contemporary art space was inaugurated in the basement of the National Assembly House in November (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

A contemporary art space was inaugurated in the basement of the National Assembly House in November, displaying 15 art works of 15 contemporary artists.

The artworks feature the artists’ viewpoints on the country’s cultural, architectural and art values set in the national long-standing history.

7. First-ever nude photo exhibition opens in Hanoi

A nude photo exhibition opened for public in Hanoi from July 20-27, marking the first-ever event of its kind to be hosted by a State-run agency, namely the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition.

The exhibition, showcasing 52 artworks by 10 photographers, was designed to untie the knot of social prejudice against nude photographers and nude photography.

8. Contest launched on the theme of the homeland’s seas and islands

Roughly 5,300 single photos and photo collections from 900 authors across the nation were sent to a contest on the theme of the homeland’s seas and islands.

Over 200 high quality art works were exhibited at Hanoi’s Temple of Literature, giving viewers a deep impression of the beautiful landscape, the beauty of the inhabitants, and the silent sacrifice of soldiers in protecting the country’s sovereignty.

9. Seminar remembers the father of Vietnamese photography

A seminar was held in Thua Thien – Hue province in March to honour the father of Vietnamese photography Dang Huy Tru (1825-1874), who introduced photography to Vietnam some 150 years ago.

Speeches presented by researchers and members of Dang’s family at the seminar shed light on the life and career of Dang Huy Tru as well as his contributions to the establishment and development of the country’s photography.

10. Exhibition honours Ho Chi Minh and State Awards winners

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Audiences look at a sculpture by Pham Quang Dao displayed at the exhibition. (Photo: VNA)

Dozens of works of art and literature by 13 artists, photographers and writers, who were winners of the Ho Chi Minh Prize and the State Prize in 2016, were on display in Hanoi in August.

The State and Ho Chi Minh prizes are the highest honours conferred by the Party and State to outstanding works of art and literature with profound meaning and high artistic value that serve the revolutionary cause and contribute to the development of literature and arts.