An exhibition featuring sculptures of lions and ‘nghe’ - a fictional creature with a lion-like head, long tail and dog-like body - opened in Da Nang city, the central coastal province of Da Nang on October 13.
The contest, which was launched from July to September, 2015, was open to carvers and production establishments in the city’s Non Nuoc stone carving village and to members of the municipal Fine Arts Association. The entries were required to be made from marble, plaster or composite, and they had to be at least 80cm in height. The contest aims to encourage artisans at Non Nuoc fine arts stone village to create sculptural works consistent with Viet Nam’s habits and customs at historical sites, pagodas and temples.
With the displays, the exhibition promises to help visitors learn about and discriminate between Viet Nam’s sacred objects and sacred objects which are inconsistent with Viet Nam’s habits and customs.
On the occasion, the organising board presented two second prizes, two third prizes and two consolation prizes to outstanding works.
Also on the same day, the 14 most outstanding sculptures created by the village’s production establishments were displayed at an exhibition in the office of the Management Board.
The event, co-organised by the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, aims to promote the unique values of art heritage and offers visitors an opportunity to view two of Viet Nam’s main sacred objects: the lion and nghe (a fictional creature with the head of a lion, the body of a dog, and a long tail). Both of them had to be imbued with the Vietnamese cultural identity.