A total of 12 artworks by 8 renowned Vietnamese painters will be put up for auction on  30 July at the Chon Auction House.

A painting by Bui Xuan Phai to be put up for auction

The painters include Nguyen Gia Tri, Nguyen Tuong Lan, To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Duong Bich Lien, Nguyen Sang and Bui Xuan Phai, who form the 2 legendary quartets of Vietnamese painting.

They are all past students of the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine in its formative years.

The auction, the 5^th session to be held by the auction house, is an opportunity for arts lovers to see the master painters of Viet Nam.

Prior to the auction, the 12 paintings will be on display from  21 to 29 July.

Currently Viet Nam’s arts trade market is relatively subdued due to a lack of auction houses.

Previously, painters or owners of valuable paintings were largely used to the usual way of depositing their works at galleries and exhibitions, with fixed listed prices. If the transactions were successful, the painters or owners had to pay a part of the sold assets.

Meanwhile charity auctions do not reflect the true value of the works.

Many painters say that if commercial auctions are held more frequently, it will help to open a new channel for selling and buying artworks publicly, limit tax losses to the State budget, and encourage domestic artists to create more their works.

It is also expected to open up more opportunities for domestic and foreign arts lovers and collectors to own artworks with clear origins that are protected by the national law.

(Source: NDO/ DA NANG Today)