VietNamNet Bridge – Italian painter Richard San Marzano and a painting collector have launched a prize for self-portraits by Vietnamese artists worth VND100 million ($5,000).

A self-portrait by Nguyen Thi Chau Giang.

Italian painter Richard San Marzano, from the Dogma Collection Society said that he and British painting collector Dominic Scriven share the passion for Vietnamese painting, so they had decided to organize a competition (Dogma Prize) for self-portraits by Vietnamese artists.

The competition is for all Vietnamese painters of 18 years old upwards, who are living in Vietnam.

Each competitor is allowed to submit only one portrait through website dogmacollection.com.

The jury will begin working on June 15. The winners will be announced on July 12. Selected submissions will be displayed at the HCM City Fine-art Museum from July 12 to 30.

Besides the VND100 million Dogma Prize, the organizing board will present three 10-million consolation prizes.

Italian painter Richard San Marzano and his wife, Linh Huyen –

director of the Mekong Artists Company – introduce the Dogma Prize.

The judging panel includes: Ms. Ma Thanh Cao, Director of the HCM City Fine-art Museum, Ms. Pham Thi Nhu Quynh, manager of Quynh Gallery and painter Richard San Marzano.

British collector Dominic Scriven, the co-organizer of Dogma Prize, has a collection of around 80 self-portraits by Vietnamese artists since 1994.

The organizers plan to hold Dogma Prize each two years in Vietnam.

PV