KVT – ART 4 U BARGAINS @ 29 HANG BAI UNTIL 12th

The bi-annual affordable art extravaganza hosted by Manzi and Workroom 4 is in full swing and DEFINITELY WORTH VISITING

For their 5th ART FOR YOU they’ve shifted locale from the oldworldy spaces at Manzi to the infrequently used but very excellent government owned gallery (THE ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER) at 29 Hang Bai.

The walls (and floors) are a-bloom with easily portable art works that will catch the eye of just about every prospective art buyer and for those who know their artists there’s more than a few really affordable bargains. And for those who don’t know much about art there’s a plethora of wall candy to fall in love with

Prices range from extravagant to ridiculously cheap.

KOTO staff has set up a small coffee space in a back gallery surrounded by delectable offerings from Workroom 4

When I rolled up to 29 Hang Bai at 11am the streets were insufferably hot but the gallery was as cool and crisp as a chilled cucumber so I dallied for a long while choosing the art pieces that I would buy if only I was cashed up.

So here goes…

Nguyen Quang Huy’s Blue Landscape diptych made me feel cool and refreshed straight off. At $900 the price might seem a bit steep but I’d be getting a unique piece by a very exceptional artist

Overseas artist Cheryl Hin… (Sorry, but my notes were affected by a coffee spill) has a few deliciously elegant interiors on show and my favorite is A Silver Sanctuary @$400

The Forgotten Present by Ca Van An is another work that immediately appealed to me immensely. At $580 it’s at the high end but it’s got a lot going for it.

Who couldn’t help but stop for a while in front of Le Thuy’s playful monochrome on silk?

Le Thuy is a prominent young artist whose silks are always irresistibly fetching. Her skill is demonstrated in this recent clip

Several small, blue and white sketches of scenes in Hanoi by architect cum artist Dang Duc Viet are all great buys at around $300. It’s worthwhile catching more of his outstanding work at this site.

Outstanding feminist artist Le Hoang Bich Phuong from Saigon has some excellent sketches in the show and which, at $150, are a complete steal and should be rushed.

Very internationally renowned artist Nguyen Huy An has some small and extremely beautiful and atmospheric Gates for some lucky people to grab hold of at $300 each. If you’ve ever contemplated his village ponds you’ll be enchanted with the mystery of these works.

I’m a bit of a sucker for the monochromatic paintings of Nguyen Van Chung and this little beauty at $400 just blew me away

Then I fell right into an interior by Do Trong Quy which at $200 should be snatched off the wall by a canny art lover

Nguyen Tuan Dung is talented hyper realist and this artist’s series of bicycles superimposed over newsprint have always been winners. This one is priced at $800

NEXT TIME I BREEZE INTO 29 HANG BAI MY CHOICES WOULD IN ALL LIKELIHOOD BE DIFFERENT… That’s due to the high standard of the art on show!