Italian writer meets Vietnamese fans in Hanoi

Italian novelist Giarico Caroifiglio had an exchange on his novel “the past is a foreign country” with his fans in Hanoi on October 15.

Caroifiglio is a famous Italian contemporary writer. As a former anti-Mafia judge in Bari he has a deep knowledge of the underworld. His novel is about the city in the 1980s which was facing dangers and temptations – an intriguing subject for young readers.

Caroifiglio got the Premio Bancarella Italian literary award in 2005. The same award was first presented to Ernest Hemingway in 1953 for his novel The Old Man and the Sea.

At the exchange, the novelist said he dreamed of becoming a writer when he was just 8-9 years old. He had to spend 30 years writing his first book.

His works have been translated into 24 languages and adapted into movies.

Caroifiglio said he was very happy to see his works being translated into Vietnamese.

Photos recall blitz of Ha Noi

Ha Noi's Days and Nights in 1972, a photo exhibit of the city taken during the 1972 US B52 blitz of the city, has been unveiled at the French Cultural Centre.

The show features vivid images capturing the undaunted spirit of Ha Noi citizens and their anti-aircraft force during the air raids by US B-52s by the end of 1972.

It showcases the most memorable events of 1972 – the key year in the resolution of the conflict between Viet Nam and the US.

It was the year of the Linebacker Operation, the bombing of the French representative office in Ha Noi on October 11, as well as the continuous B-52 air raids Hanoians had to endure for 12 days and nights. Other landmark events feature the signing of the Paris Peace Accords on January 27 1973 representing the culmination of negotiations that lasted five years.

The exhibition thoroughly explains each stage of the battle, covering targets, strategies and statistics to tragic losses, both material and human.

The event has been organised by the Ha Noi-based Ecole Francaise d'Extreme-Orient (EFEO) (French school of Asian studies) and the French Embassy in Viet Nam.

It marks the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the French representative office in Ha Noi.

"I hope the exhibition can remind those who lived during the war and those who have never experienced the war of Ha Noi in 1972," said Olivier Tessier, head of the EFEO.

"I also hope it can help the public get a view of the war from both the French and Vietnamese perspective," he added.
Visitors to the show can also hear extract of stories told by living witnesses who endured that difficult period in Ha Noi and have first hand experience of the war atrocities.

Organisers used films, file photos and documents provided by both Vietnamese and French organisations including Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the Viet Nam's Airforce Museum, the Viet Nam National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio, the French National Audiovisual Institute and La Defense Department of Information and Audiovisual Production.

Various individuals also contributed photos to the exhibition including Jean-Marc Gravier, Alain Wasmes, Nicolas Cornet and former VNA's photojournalist Chu Chi Thanh.

The exhibition's opening ceremony on Friday was followed by a seminar further exploring the topic with participation from several Vietnamese and French historians.

"I am very interested in listening to foreigners share their ideas about the Vietnamese history," said Nguyen Thi Kieu Oanh, a student from the Ha Noi University of Education.

The exhibition was chiefly organised by researcher Tessier. Holding a doctorate in anthropology, he was granted the Bui Xuan Phai – Love for Ha Noi award in September for his research on Ha Noi's Ancient Citadel.

The prize recognised his work collecting precious photos and documents on the citadel and organising exhibitions and conferences honouring the values of the old capital.

The show will run until November 9 at the French Cultural Centre, 21 Trang Tien Street.

Sculptors invited to submit works for national expo next year

Vietnamese professional and amateur sculptors have been invited to submit works created between 2003 and 2013 to organisers of the 5th National Sculpture Exhibition.

The exhibition, organised by the Department of Fine Art, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association, will be held in Ha Noi in December 2013.

Held every ten years, the exhibition aims to showcase the achievements of Vietnamese sculptors for local and foreign art lovers, and promote development of the art, said Vi Kien Thanh, head of the department and chief of the organising board.

The organisers will award a top prize of VND30 million (US$1,500), two second prizes of VND20 million each, three third prizes of VND10 million each and 15 recognition prizes.

Submissions have to be sent to the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition at 39, Cao Ba Quat Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi.

New ‘conversation' approach to shed light on Dang Than romance novel

A "polysymphony" performance of the novel 3.3.3.9 [Nhung Manh Hon Tran] (Fragments of Naked Souls] written by Vietnamese writer Dang Than will be held at the Goethe Institute on Thursday.

The novel is about a romance between a Vietnamese girl from Hai Phong City named Mong Huong and a German boy called Schditt von de Balle-Kant.

The author will participate in the performance of his novel alongside the critic La Nguyen and the calligraphic artist Trinh Tuan.

They will use diverse types of ‘conversation' to convey the message of the story to the audience, including dialogue, monologue and incidental chat. They will also use calligraphy to convey some of the book's meaning. It is the first time this type of art performance has been presented at the Institute. The conversations will be in Vietnamese and German.

In January 2012, the French Cultural Centre of Ha Noi held a significant seminar discussing this book, and many Vietnamese critics and authors had been drawn by its exceptional originality and heatedly discussed its style and meaning.

Than is a notable Vietnamese contemporary bilingual poet, fiction writer and essayist. He has taught American and English literature at several universities in Ha Noi since 1990, and has also worked as a translator and interpreter. He has written and published works in English.

Vietnamese artists in Beijing exhibition

Thirteen Vietnamese painters are taking part in the 5th Beijing International Art Biennale (BIAB) exhibition in China, reports the Vietnam News Agency.

Themed “Future and Reality”, the event mainly showcases paintings and sculptural works, which manifest artists’ concern about ecological crisis; impacts of climate change, sea water level rise, earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear pollution, religious conflicts and terrorism.

Founded in 2003, BIAB is jointly sponsored by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Government of Beijing Municipality and the China Artists’ Association.

This year’s exhibition is taking place at the National Art Museum of China, attracting the participation of 513 painters from 85 nations.

It will run until October 31.

Duo Lan Phien-Bao Quyen perform in town

Lan Phien and Bao Quyen will twinkle on the old ivories at the concert hall of HCMC Conservatory of Music at 8 p.m. on October 20.

The talented pianists will perform works such as Pagodes, Jardins suos la puise, Etuden No. 6 by Debussy, Sonate No.31 of Beethoven, Ungarische Rhapsodie No. 14 by Liszt, Ballet No. 4 by F. Chopin and Toccata No. 3 by Bach.

Born in 1995 in Wiesbaden, Germany, Phien studied at Frankfurt College of Music and Performing Arts with Professor Irina Edelstein.

Quyen, born in 1994, studied at Vietnam Institute of Music and has joined a masterclass by Professor Irina Edelstein from Germany.

Tickets are priced at VND200,000 and available at the Conservatory of Music, 112 Nguyen Du Street in  District 1.

Students just pay VND50,000. For more information, contact (08) 38243774, ext 130.

Arts exchange marks Vietnam-India diplomatic ties

An art performance to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of their strategic partnership took place in Hanoi on October 14.

The event was jointly held by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Ranjit Rae highlighted the increasing developments in the multifaceted relations between the two countries, especially in culture.

Since 2008, the two countries have taken turns holding the Vietnam-India People Friendship Festival, and shared experiences in organising people friendship activities.

VNN/VOV/VNS/SGT/VNA