Since the inovation in 1986, Vietnam has integrated with the region and the world. The new appearance of the country has contributed to create new vitality and many sources of artistic inspiration for painters and sculptors. Many new creative thinking trends from the outside are quickly and selectively approached by artists, gradually enhancing the appearance of Vietnamese Fine Arts as a traditional, richly original Vietnam.
In the face of the strong transformation of Vietnam contemporary art, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum promptly selected, collected and preserved works to enrich the Vietnamese Contemporary Fine Arts treasures.
At the end of February, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum opened exhibition space of Contemporary Art on the 2nd & 3rd floors, building B (66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh, Hanoi).
Space for Contemporary art at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum
The Contemporary Art exhibition space at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum is adjusted and expanded on the basis of the Contemporary Art content in the museum’s previous regular display system, displayed under two forms: take place at the museem’s floor and online to serve the art-loving public.
It can be seen that, in countries around the world, the contemporary art gallery space was formed very early. At the Metropolitan Museum, a space dedicated to study, collection and exhibition of modern and contemporary art was established in 1890; The Institute of Contemporary Art in London was established in 1947, the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York was established in 1977; In 1980s, Tate Museum planned for a Museum of Contemporary Art. Compared to those, our Museum’s space for Contemporary Art was established later, but it is an important milestone to shaping the future sustainable development of contemporary art in Vietnam.
According to artist Luong Xuan Doan – Chairman of Vietnam Fine Arts Association: “Previously, contemporary art works were only displayed at exhibitions and museums without having their own space. This time, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum’s separate space for contemporary art shows the innovation of Fine Arts. This can be considered a recognition, an encouraging breakthrough for art creators, especially contemporary art.”
Coming to the contemporary art exhibition space, viewers will fully enjoy 65 artworks of various genres: painting, graphic, sculpture expressed in many materials, the works were created from 1980 to present, gives the public a more comprehensive view of Vietnamese Contemporary Art.
The artists include many generations, the oldest was born in 1925 and the youngest was born in 1985. Some names can be mentioned such as: Ngoc Tho (1925), Trinh Cung (1939), Nguyen Trung (1940) ), Thanh Chuong (1949), Le Anh Van (1952), Pham Luan (1954), Nguyen Quoc Hoi (1960), Le Quang Ha (1963), Nguyen Hai Nguyen (1965), Diep Quy Hai (1971), Bui Tien Tuan (1971), Tran Hoang Son (1972), Nguyen Ngoc Dan (1972), Pham Binh Chuong (1973), Vu Dinh Tuan (1973).
Ngoc Tho (1925-2016) ‘Tiger’ oil 110×115 cm, 2011
Nguyen Trung (b 1940) ‘Wall’ oil 100×100 cm, 1998
Thanh Chuong (b 1949) ‘Summer afternoon’ lacquer
A special feature of the contemporary space is that “the breath of times is in paintings and sculptures via artists”. Whether the works are in an abstract or realistic way, each work is a very personal perspective on life, very ordinary, but without losing a certain romance of art. The works have escaped from the theme of “workers, farmers and soldiers” of previous generations to give viewers a reflection of people and society of the era they are living in. It is also the common voice of times, the bridge between past and present. Through the works, artists want to send many meaningful messages, contributing to raising the awareness and responsibility of each person in building a positive and healthy living environment, towards sustainable development in future.
Le Anh Van (b 1952) ‘Rhythm of moutain’ oil 79×109 cm, 1994
Tran Hoang Son (b 1972) ‘People of village’ watercolor 210×210 cm, 2011
The Contemporary Art exhibition space can partly give the public a better understanding of Vietnam’s innovative fine arts, creative trends, materials, changes… This will be a very interesting artistic experience for viewers.
Nguyen Hai Nguyen (b 1965) ‘Horse head’ copper 52×23×20 cm, 1991
Lim Kim Kathy (b 1978) ‘Beautiful life’ oil 120×150 2011
Pham Luan (b 1954) ‘Street impression no. 5’ gouache 75×84 cm, 1997
Vu Dinh Tuan (b 1973) ‘Gold autumn’ silk 120×78 cm, 2017
By Viet Art View
