A painting and sculpture exhibition on social issues such as child sexual abuse and environmental protection has opened in the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

Artist Nguyen Thanh Tue’s Vet Den (Black Scar) sculpture in mixed media focuses on the issue of child sexual abuse. It is part of an exhibition at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

The event features 258 paintings and sculptures in different media by 230 artists in HCM City and southern provinces.

The works are from the artists’ latest collections created during the 2017 Creative Camp launched by the city’s Fine Arts Association.

One of the event’s featured sculptures, Vet Den (Dark Scar) by Nguyen Thanh Tue, is about victims of child molestation.

The young artist told the local press that he wanted to create a large sculpture about the sensitive subject because he wants to break the silence about the issue.

“Through my art, I hope to encourage people, particularly youth, to not be afraid of talking about sex or sexual abuse,” he said. 

“Tue’s Vet Den left a very strong impression on everyone,” said Nguyen Kim Thuy, a third-year student at the city’s University of Economy. 

Thuy said she supported artists in theatre, film and the arts who create works that oppose sexual abuse of children.

“I believe their art will help to bring evils to the light,” she said.

Thuy also viewed the film S.O.S Soi Trang (S.O.S White Wolf), a production on child sexual abuse by veteran director Le Hoang of HCM City.

The aim of the film was to educate young children and teenagers about sexual harassment and abuses so they can protect themselves. It has attracted several thousands of young viewers.

The exhibition, which opens at 9am every day at 97 Pho Duc Chinh street in District 1, ends on September 6. Entrance is free.

VNA