VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 155 paintings, graphic designs, sculptures, installations and art videos of 136 artists are being displayed at the National Young Fine Arts Festival at the Culture and Arts Exhibition Centre, 2 Hoa Lu Street.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vi Kien Thanh, director of the culture ministry's Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, said: "The artists create works for Vietnamese fine arts of today and the future. The festival is not only the aggregation of young artists but also helps art and social managers have deeper and wider views of art issues and young artists."

He also referred to the development of art in recent years. "Art has been widened to apply to fashion and modern furniture design. It now sees the interaction of viewers and artists, as well as the participation of visitors in process of creating artwork," he said.

The participating artists provide viewers with an insight into modern life. Visitors can realise familiar images in life, such as street corners in Ha Noi, a vendor pushing her bicycle and a parking lot.

Ap Luc (Pressure), an acrylic painting by Nguyen Pham Dinh Tuan from the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, describes a man holding his head in his hands while other hands surround him and one foot is going to hit his head. Meanwhile, Bua Com Gia Dinh Toi (My Family Meal), an oil painting by Le Thi Que Chau from HCM City, depicts a modern family where members do their own work and cannot have a meal together.

Khoang O Thoi Gian (Apertures of Time) by Le Duc Tung from Ha Noi portrays his acquaintances and people who he met by chance. Half of the painting shows the faces of elderly people while the remaining part reflects innocent children. "I think that faces express people clearly. I put the old people's faces beside children's to show that there is no difference between the generations," Tung said.

While walking around the exhibition room, Nguyen Thi Binh from Hai Duong province said: "In spite of being young, the artists are professional in handling colour and light. I love Nguon Coi (Source), the lacquer painting by Nguyen Duc Viet the most. It reminds me of my hometown with the old village's gate and banyan tree."

Installation works make an impression on every visitor. Nguyen Hoang Viet from Thua Thien-Hue displays Xe (Sawing Out) featuring bloody tree trunks with a message: "Sawing the trees is sawing us".

Thai Nhat Minh from the northern province of Vinh Phuc borrows images of birds in 36 Thu Chim (36 Kinds of Birds) to talk about freedom.

"The multishape beauty of birds inspired me. These birds were by wood and aluminium, following my emotions over the course of two months. I want to pose a question of freedom: Should we imprison nature to enjoy its beauty?" he said.

The festival, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in co-operation with the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association, aims to create a space for young artists nationwide and develop art.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News