Exhibition “Art of Vietnam – Another Look”

Opening: Mon 19 Oct 2015, 6 pm
Exhibition: 19 – 23 Oct 2015
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

From the organizer:

We hereby cordially presents a piece of art exhibition named “Art of Vietnam – Another look”. The showcase introduces more than 50 features artworks by well-known Vietnamese modern artists since the period of École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine (Indochina Fine Arts College) and beyond. All works are from the private collection of Nguyễn Minh.

Nguyễn Minh’s modern Vietnamese painting collection is worth watching and respecting. With a cultural sensitivity and a considerable investment Nguyễn Minh has acquired numerous paintings from international auctions. And he has done a great job bringing national treasures back to where they belonged.

It can be said that God bless collectors during their approach to artists and artworks. On the other hand, they are talented businessmen investing in the arts while the domestic art market is still rudimental. Nguyễn Minh was raised in a family of antique collectors; also his own antique collection is valuable. Later he became friend of Đức Minh’s sons, the art collectors (Bùi Đình Thản), and was considered as the first buyer of some items from Đức Minh’s collection upon its dissolution.

In recent years, Nguyễn Minh changed the mind and started participating in international art auctions of Christie’s, Sotheby’s and others. These works shall probably undergo a chequered fate, due to limitations in storing capacity of Vietnamese collectors. Therefore, at any time, the introduction of the precious works of art is a good opportunity for the general public and art lovers, in which the role of the arts in the culture and in the society is evaluated.

In any country, any nation that has come cross too long wars and undergone complicated political regimes, there is not much chance for culture even though it is the country’s survival motivation. That is just the case of Vietnam culture context. Near the end of the 19th century, Vietnam was under French colonialism against a powerless feudalism, and a lot of patriotic movements happened. The first half of the 20th century witnessed patriotic organised struggles, and finally the Vietnam Communist party played a decisive role in the fight for national independence. The country split into two parts for more than 20 years, from 1954 to 1975, and then an arduous reunification. Later came the period of the “Subsidy economy”, post-war recovery, Đổi Mới (the Renovation), Socialism – oriented market economy… Over the whole 20th century, Vietnam culture was like mothers in the war nourishing their children, willing to sacrifice all. Many ancient buildings as pagodas, temples, and community houses were destroyed. Many antiquities disappeared and were traded abroad. Almost all artists became poor, down and out; lastly their artworks were sent adrift. Till today, archiving artworks in domestic collections has been considered to be a great human awakening. And people, who are awakened, in one way or another protect these artworks even under nearly impossible conditions.

Every quality collection can be a face of art and culture in its own way. Thereby, it may be said, Nguyễn Minh’s collection is Art of Vietnam – Another look. This title is also the name of the artbook of Phan Cẩm Thượng and partners researching over 200 works in the collection during two recent years. This special publication will be introduced in the day of Opening Exhibition.

This exhibition also received support from Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Department of Fine Arts and Photography, art critic Phan Cẩm Thượng, ACCAviet the organiser as well as many friends, colleagues and artists. We are deeply thankful.

Nguyễn Minh

Begin his career as collector of antiques, caligraphy and painting, Nguyễn Minh is one of art & cultural unique collectors in Hanoi at this time. His collection stores more than 200 art pieces since the periof of École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine, Wartime, Subsidying time and Doi Moi (the Renovation), lasting from 1940 – 1990 of 20th century. There are many famous names of features artists in Vietnamese Modern Arts, such as Lê Phổ, Vũ Cao Đàm, Mai Trung Thứ, Lê Thị Lựu, Bùi Xuân Phái, Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm, Nguyễn Trọng Hợp, Lê Quốc Lộc, Mai Văn Hiến, Trọng Kiệm, Trần Duy, Nguyễn Dung, Đặng Xuân Hòa, Thành Chương… and others.

ACCAviet

ACCAviet is a group of independent curators and event organizers working together to organize exhibitions and art events for local and international artists in Vietnam.

It is the objective of ACCAviet to collaborate, exchange, and generate dialogues and connection with other artists and independent curators, organizations, institutes, art centers within and outside of Vietnam, towards the goals of creating more opportunities for artists, to nurture and enrich the art scene in Vietnam, to promote the development of contemporary art and cultural environment.

Communications Partner: Hanoi Grapevine