KVT – visits VAC

Khai But at the Viet Art Center

is a group showing of work done this year by lecturers at the Fine Art University. As with most group shows it’s uneven but there’s something there to please most viewers and I guess it must be unnerving to have to put yourself on the line and prove to your students that you actually have talent.

The stand-out piece for me was the delicate series of buffalo drawings by Nguyen Nghia Phuong.

Others on a buffalo theme that stood out were the triptych of geometric drawings by Vu Dinh Thuan and the aluminum heads – probably by Mai Thu Van?

Perhaps the most eye catching works are the well executed oil on canvas of soldiers on parade by Le Quang Tong who commands lots of dollars for his militaristically themed work – a well mounted solo exhibition by Tong would have to be a must see – and the manipulated photographs of Nguyen Thi Son which are probably the most adventurous bits on show.

And I guess that’s what was missing in the exhibition – adventure. It’s all a bit too safe.

I was a bit put off by the pieces on boxes. Surely if you are going to display your work to advantage you make sure the pedestals are clean and fresh. It’s like putting your prints in a scratched and filthy frame. A trifle sloppy.

Worthwhile seeing if you are interested in the talents that teach art. Finishes on the 18th.