Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, described the centennial of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts as a meaningful moment to reflect on the evolution of modern Vietnamese art  -  from its origins in preserving beauty to its mission of creating new cultural values.

He honored painter Nguyen Do Cung, a fifth-generation student of the Indochina Fine Arts School and the first director of the museum, who laid the foundations and charted its development path.

Currently, the museum houses many important collections from generations of Vietnamese artists. Notably, 60% of its modern art collection comes from painters, sculptors, lecturers, and students of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts.

Dr. Minh emphasized the enduring bond between the museum and the university  -  a natural connection in the cycle of education, creativity, preservation, and promotion. This partnership has played a vital role in sharing the values of Vietnamese fine arts with audiences at home and abroad.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Nghia Phuong, Vice Rector of the university and curator of the exhibition, revealed that it took nearly two years to carefully select the showcased works. According to him, these pieces not only reflect the school’s training programs through different historical periods but also embody the liberal educational philosophy of the institution, where students are encouraged to fully express their individuality and creative potential.

The exhibition features 150 outstanding works of painting, sculpture, and relief, spanning a century of artistic creation and education at the first academic fine arts school in Indochina. Since the inaugural course in 1925, generations of teachers and students have made profound contributions through their artworks and studies closely tied to Vietnam’s national history.

“This is the first time in 100 years  -  from the Indochina Fine Arts School to today’s Vietnam University of Fine Arts  -  that the works preserved by both the school and the museum are brought together in a single exhibition,” said Nguyen Nghia Phuong.

“They create a symphony of colors, shapes, emotions, and intellect  -  united in spirit for a modern Vietnamese art rich in identity. Most of the pieces are being unveiled for the first time.”

The exhibition space is organized into six thematic sections:

The French mentors – inspiration for students and Vietnamese modern art
Students pursuing a new identity in national art (1925–1945)
Transition from Indochinese art to revolutionary art for wartime resistance (1945–1957)
Incorporating Indochinese heritage into socialist realism (1957–1981)
Renovation and the journey of integration (1981–2008)
Integration and artistic expansion (2008–present)

Some notable sculptures are also on display. The exhibition is open to the public until November 22.