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Well, a trio of artists in Hanoi decided to shatter that myth in style in Hanoi.
Trieu Tuan Long, Do Hiep and Nguyen Dinh Vu held the controversial ‘Sale Off’ at the Exhibition House, 16 Ngo Quyen Street in the capital from October 24 to November 4.
Right after the opening day of the exhibition which attracted huge numbers of visitors, from artists, art lovers to passers-by who were curious by pink banners with bold words such as ‘Sale Off”, ‘Discount 90%’, ‘Grand sale’. or ‘Tung bung khuyen mai, uu dai hoanh trang’ (big sale, big promotion).
This was a revolutionary event and could well be an important part of art evolution in Vietnam. The artists were selling their gifts to the world on the cheap with prices ranging from US$30 to US$1,500. It has caused huge controversy in recent days among artists, art experts and the public. A publicity stunt? Maybe, but it certainly made an impact.
Artist Hiep said: “If someone criticizes us because we are holding the exhibition due to public demand, they are right, but artists want to sell paintings and also they have a responsibility to bring art to the public, creating chances for normal people to own paintings as well as enhancing the relationship between artists and the public.”
Unlike other exhibitions which are just crowded on the opening day, ‘Sale Off’ was busy throughout and embraced an animated ambiance of people who came to buy, see or to exchange their thoughts with artists. Paintings are arranged like clothes booths in supermarkets, creating a simple-mannered atmosphere for everyone.
Hiep added: “We expect to hold this kind of exhibition annually with the participation of more artists in order that art is closer to the public and artists can do more for art lovers.”
However, others thought that the exhibition disgraced the nobility as well as decreased the quality of art. “Discounting the price does not mean discounting the quality and telling people that art is cheap as all our works are made of oil on canvas or lacquer and have been made during the past year,” said Hiep, adding that works depict many aspects of life.
Vo Nam, an artist and owner of the Applied Arts Gallery in HCMC, said: “For trading purposes there is nothing wrong as young artists need money to continue with their passion to produce art for the public. If all artists sell paintings for high prices then their works just come to the rich, but I believe art is for everyone.”
Nam also added: “In the past, people just painted for royal families or noble-class people, but it doesn’t make sense if artists paint about a miserable life, about poor people, common daily life and then just sell them to the rich who can’t appreciate that.” Nam also expects to hold a similar exhibition in HCMC to bring art to everyone of all classes.
Art lover Nga Phan of Go Vap District was thrilled by the bold move. She said: “I believe that ‘Sale Off’ is the perfect way to make the working class people of Saigon realize that art is for them too. Some painters are not rich and they need to eat. Maybe the three artists in Hanoi have upset gallery owners, who will lose out on commission if this becomes the norm in Vietnam.”
Not everyone agreed with the trio’s bold exhibition. Phuong Quoc Tri, an artist and owner of Cactus Contemporary Art Gallery in HCMC, was furious and said: “Art is not the kind of thing to sell off and an exhibition has a higher meaning of art, not a street market. If they want to sell paintings, they should go to galleries and should not hold an exhibition like that.”
Luong Luu Bien, a well-known artist in HCMC, said: “Paintings have their own prices and trading is the business of gallery owners, collectors and dealers while artists just need to paint, to create and find new things to introduce to the public. People need try to reach out to the arts, the arts should not come to the people.”
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