VietNamNet Bridge – Works by Viet Nam's pioneer artist Le Pho are among the highest priced items listed at an autumn sale in Hong Kong by the Larasati Auctioneers showing on November 26.

Two of the artist's works appear at the sale, Hoa Hop (Harmony), an oil on canvas at 114.3 x 146cm and Hoa Tulip Do va Vang Thau (Red and Golden Tulip Flowers), an oil on masonite at 81 x 54cm. Though the works are not of his typical style, the earlier (Hoa Hop) coming from Wally Findlay Galleries in Palm Beach, Florida, is going at the starting price of US$44,800-57,600.

At the same auction, Dang Xuan Hoa's painting Suy Tu (Thinking), an oil on canvas at 60 x 80cm is available at $7,000-10,200.

The sale will showcase works by other Southeast Asian artists such as S. Sudjojono and Srihadi Soedarsono, Nyoman Masriadi, Ay Tjoe Christine and Jumaldi Alfi.

Born in Viet Nam on August 2, 1907, Le Pho began studying art at a young age.

He first studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts of Ha Noi between 1925 to 1930, and then at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris the following two years.

In 1933, upon his return to Ha Noi, he was appointed professor at the Ha Noi Ecole des Beaux-Arts, a post he held from 1933 to 1936.

Le Pho's professorship in Ha Noi came to an end when he was sent back to Paris in 1937 as a delegate to the International Exposition in Paris and served as a member of the jury.

Since that time Le Pho stayed in France. He had his first one man show in 1938. Also he served as artistic advisor to the Embassy of Viet Nam in Paris, was a prizewinner at the International Exhibition of Beaux-Arts of Saigon and held an annual exhibition at the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Independants in Paris.

His work is presented in the Permanent collection of the Museum d'Art Moderne, Paris.-

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News