In fact, this is an exhibition that should have been organized by Sotheby’s a long time ago. Because its meaning is quite broad. Celebrating many aspects in an event.
- Firstly, Sotheby’s is an auction house, certainly they want to expand their influence everywhere where their products are of interest.
- Second, paintings created by Vietnamese artists are mostly purchased by Vietnamese people. Even if you buy it for different purposes such as interest, investment, speculation, gift… you still have to have money. Big money buys big paintings, small money buys small paintings. Depending on knowledge, pocket money and “desire-level”, which is often understood as the “painting – intoxicated” mentality.
- Third, when many Vietnamese buy Vietnamese paintings, Sotheby’s, like the other auction houses, sell Vietnamese paintings, earning a lot of profit from the fees charged between the two parties (both buying and selling).
- Fourth, professional auction houses are always like a measure (for reference only) of the price of an artist’s work. Although this sometimes does not match the domestic market very well. For example, the paintings of the Nghiem – Lien – Sang – Phai quartet often don’t have many real paintings at auction houses. If there is, the painting is not of much value. Therefore, if it is certain that a genuine-valued work of the four artists mentioned above, if sold at the international auction houses, it will certainly not have the same price as in the domestic market.
- Fifth, this event honors a number of Vietnamese collectors. In the domestic market, playing games is something that must be “hidden” because playing games is synonymous with wealth. But in Vietnam, when flaunting their wealth, they will “be killed by the crowd”. But now times are different. Have paintings means having a high cultural standard. And indeed, many rich people step into collection of paintings to find that loving paintings is loving cultural values. Not only that, the benefit value is at a different threshold, related to spirit. This is only when you are passionate about paintings and understand the value of artworks, you can define the benefit value. The last step, deciding everything is spending the money…
Le Pho. Maiden stroking her hair.
Vu Cao Dam. Beside the temple.
So, Sotheby’s exhibition held this time in Saigon, Vietnam; specifically at the Park Hyatt hotel, from July 11-14, 2022, 56 paintings on oil, silk… by the quartet of overseas Vietnamese artists Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Vu Cao Dam, Le Thi Luu. Paintings were borrowed from nine private collections around the country. It can be immediately recognized that this is a very attractive event to the media and interested people.
- The first attraction comes from the name of the artists of the paintings — is the famous quartet.
- Second, the attraction from the paintings themselves. Except for collectors, art brokers, a small group of collectors’ friends have enjoyed the “expensive” beauty of paintings with a “pounding” price at Sotheby’s, but not the average person who is just an art lover can admire.
- Thirdly, curator Ace Le is currently a “hot” name that attracts the media by articles that criticize art with good theoretical properties, “trending”, follow the trend of the crowd waiting to return to painting — a form that its self-talk is closest to art lovers.
- Fourth, some collectors (just a small number) are also willing to share their personal love of art with everyone. Although, to come to an agreement to “borrow paintings” for the exhibition is extremely difficult (from the terms) because the value of each painting is very high. And certainly, it must be signed by Sotheby’s director (for some special paintings) before the painting can be brought to Park Hyatt for exhibition.
- Fifth, in addition to people who love paintings, passionate about paintings, and want to enjoy paintings, curiosity accounts for the most. Because it’s rare to have an event like this. The youngers especially like “check in”. As for some “senior” art dealers, they carefully look around to see if there are “problems” from the paintings themselves and then “whisper or talking loud” tinkling in the “brokers” world. But in reality most of it is jubilant, welcoming and waiting.
Le Pho – Woman with Fan
Le Thi Luu – Fillette aux nattes avec son panier de fleurs
Vu Cao Dam, Le Retour (The Return)
There are a few other extremely secretive collectors, who may submit paintings for exhibitions (or not) quietly watch…
And in the end, Sotheby’s is the one who benefits from this exhibition “Timeless Souls: Beyond the Voyage” the most. The content of the event is to honor the expensive paintings of Vietnamese artists, but in fact, Sotheby’s is equally honored. For a prestigious auction house like Sotheby’s, which specializes in multi-million dollar paintings of world-famous artists, this event is indeed “just right” for them.
But with Vietnamese mentality, it is the world’s “recognition and interest” in the art of Vietnam, there are still very few works reaching the million-dollar threshold… but the most spectacular is still “Portrait of Ms Phuong” by Mai Trung Thu for $3.1 million at Sotheby’s Hongkong in April 2021.
Mai Trung Thu. The two beauties.
Vu Cao Dam. The two Kieu. Without frame.
Vu Cao Dam. The two young women.
And after this event, the media buzz will remain for a long time. A media event that wins on all fronts. The organizers did their best. All of us can see and enjoy the precious and expensive paintings of Vietnamese artists.
It’s a bit of a pity, but it must be missing a little to be good (for Sotheby’s next time with events like this) because it lacks the most expensive painting of Vietnamese painting (up to this moment).
That is Miss of the era “Portrait of Ms Phuong” by Mai Trung Thu.
