VietNamNet Bridge – This year’s Viet Nam Fine Arts Association prize has been won by Ku Kao Khai for his sculpture-installation work entitled Chuong (Bell). 

Ding dong: Artist Ku Kao Khai and his award-winning work of a bell. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

Bell was made from timber and paint about 200cm by 180cm. The work features a traditional fish-shaped bell. Khai sculptured images of factories, dead fish and people wearing face masks in the two boards on the sides of the bell. 

"I want to raise a voice about environment pollution," said Khai. "I nurtured the idea for a long time because I was inspired by a bell from Phat Diem Cathedral. However there are more factories to be built in my homeland and they are threatening the environment of local residents".

Khai also sculptured many fish, conveying his message that people should protect the environment and natural resource for young generations facing food shortages in future.

Khai took about five months to complete the work. It is the third time Khai has won the national fine arts award following the first and the second in 2013 and 2014.

Khai was born in northern Ninh Binh. After graduating from the National Fine Arts Teachers Training College, he returned home and is working as a high school fine arts teacher in the province. 

He has joined many group exhibitions and has won many prizes, including second place at the prestigious award by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the National Fine Arts Exhibition in 2013. No first prize was awarded.

The annual awards also gave Nguyen Cong Van from southern province of Ninh Thuan second place for his oil-painting Le Cau Mua (Praying for Rain). Tran Giang Nam from the northern province of Bac Kan and Ha Noi-based Dang Xuan Hiep shared third place. 

The four winners competed against nearly 30 other regional award winners.

The awards are worth a total of VND25 million (US$1,100). 

Source: VNS