The railway viaduct spans on Phung Hung Street have been turned into canvas for an art project by Hoan Kiem People's Committee, UN-Habitat and the Korea Foundation.

The project is part of the programme to introduce art into urban areas. This year the mural project will focus on Phung Hung Street. The plan was agreed by the Hanoi People's Committee in August.

Nguyen Quang, UN-Habitat Programme Manager in Vietnam, said improving the urban environment was recognised as one of the key strategies to improve the local economy.

"Since 2016, we have co-operated and supported the authorities of Hanoi and Hoan Kiem District to preserve heritage, and improved the cityscape and public spaces so that Phung Hung Street will become a living heritage for Hanoians," he said.

According to Pham Tuan Long, deputy chairman of Hoan Kiem District, the project will be started in October and completed next month. There are 131 sealed viaduct spans on Phung Hung Street, four of which have been opened for traffic again. The project to decorate the bridge span with arts will be divided into three parts.

During the seminar held on October 20, 11 art works by both Vietnamese and South Korean artists, which will be recreated on Phung Hung viaduct spans, were presented at the Green One United Nations House.

The art works show a changing Hanoi while preserving traditional elements. The artists also hope to tighten the friendship between the two countries and promote Hanoi on the occasion of 40th anniversary of Vietnam as member of United Nations and 25th anniversary of Vietnam-South Korea formal diplomatic ties.

"This project is special to me. I think this is a great chance to turn the historic spans into public art, attracting viewers, creating dynamic interactions along the street and future cultural and art activities," said painter Nguyen The Son.

He went on to say that the project would bring modern art to the public and Phung Hung Street would become one of the cultural highlights of Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Proposed art works on the viaduct spans:

dtinews