An exhibition showcasing paintings by 101 leading Vietnamese artists is being held to raise funds to build houses for the poor in the central province of Quang Nam.

Tinh Vat (Still Life), an acrylic on canvas painting by Le Tuong

The exhibition “Xuoi Dong Song Thu” (Downstream of the Thu Bon River) is curated by arts researchers Ngo Kim Khoi and Ly Doi, and artist Ngo Tran Vu.

The showcase includes 164 paintings in different materials such as oil, acrylic, pencil and wax crayon, and in surrealist, abstract, semi-abstract and impressionistic styles.

The paintings feature a wide range of topics, including the beauty of the country, lifestyles, portraits and still life.

A highlighted work is Chan Dung Thieu Nu (Portrait of a Teenage Girl), a wax on canvas, created in 1972 by late artist Luu Cong Nhan (1929-2007), one of Viet Nam’s most famous contemporary artists,.

Nhân was a student of famous artist To Ngoc Van (1906-1954), one of Viet Nam’s most influential painters in the first half of the 20^th century.

After graduating from the Viet Nam Fine Arts College in 1953, Nhan travelled the country, capturing major historical events on canvas, particularly during the two French and American wars.

His two acclaimed oil paintings, Cay Ruong (Ploughing) in 1960 and Buoi Sang Suong Mu Tren Dinh Ba Vi (A Misty Morning on Ba Vi Mountain) in 1963, are in the permanent collection of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum in Ha Noi.

The exhibition also displays works by famous contemporary artists such as Trang Khuyet (Crescent Moon) by Muong Man, Mekong by Le Trieu Dien, and Tinh Vat (Still Life) by Le Tuong.

Around 50 - 100 per cent of the profit from painting sales will go to the Gieo Nha Gat Nha Fund run by artist Vu and his partners to build houses for the poor in the central region.

“Through the Xuoi Dong Song Thu exhibition, we hope to raise VND700 million (US$30,000) to build 14 houses,” Vu said.

The exhibition can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/ngotranvublog until September 30.

Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today