VietNamNet Bridge – The Ho Chi Minh City Fine Art Museum has apologized to art lovers for displaying fake paintings in an exhibition featuring masterpieces by legendary Vietnamese greatest artists opened at the museum on July 10.

Painting "Vuon chuoi" (banana garden) by Nguyen Sang

The organization board issued the official apology after a conclave on appraising these art works with the participation of the Head of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Vi Kien Thanh, and well known experts on July 19.

Accordingly, 15 among 17 masterpieces are forged paintings. There are also two paintings signed with the false names, Ta Ty 52 and Nguyen Sy Ngoc.

Functional departments have sequestered all of paintings for the investigation.

The exhibition featuring 17 art works by the four most influential painters in 20th century in Vietnam, Sang - Nghiem – Lien- Phai  (Bui Xuan Phai, Nguyen Sang, Duong Bich Lien and Nguyen Tu Nghiem) was held in the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Art Museum on July 10.

Famous paintings were collected by antiquary Vu Xuan Chung. Chung bought these art works from Christie’s senior consultant for Vietnamese art, Jean-Francois Hubert at the leading international auction house, Christie's.

The exhibition also presented art works by artists, including Ta Ty, Nguyen Tien Chung, and Nguyen Sy Ngoc.

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