National Fine Arts expo to be held in capital city
Update: May 13, 2010
About 700 best fine arts works will be selected to be displayed at the National Fine Arts Exhibition 2010 in Hanoi. The exhibition is held every five years by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to review the work of Vietnamese artists over the last five years.

Vietnamese artists both domestically and foreign-based will be encouraged to send their paintings, graphics, sculpture and installation works created since 2006 to the organisation board.

Each artist can be send three examples of their work in photos measuring 18cm by 24cm. Three dimensional sculpture works need to have photographs taken from all four perspectives. Installation works need to be snapped from five angles (panorama, front, right, left and behind).

Jury members will select the works by photograph in the first round. After the first round the works will be viewed in Hanoi, Danang and HCMC by the judging board with a view to select the best ones for award and display.

Paintings, graphic works and reliefs should measure 60cm by 200cm. Works larger than 200cm should be able to be disassembled for ease of transportation.

Sculptures should measure 40cm by 200cm not including pedestal and weigh not over 200kg. The artists will be responsible for paying for transportation and display fees for their larger works.

Installation artists have to send a map of space and a short introduction which will be displayed at size 300cm by 400cm by 400cm.

Gold, silver, bronze and consolation prizes will be awarded to three categories painting, graphic works and sculpture and installation.

"There are regulations for new categories such as installations in this exhibition. It is a good sign for artists. I remember that last time there was one installation displayed at the National Fine Arts Exhibition 2005," said Nguyen Do Bao, Chairman of Hanoi Fine Arts Association.

The national exhibition was first held in 1946 to display painting and graphic works. After the end of the anti-French war in 1954, first sculpture appeared at the exhibition. Last time, about 3,000 works were sent to the organisers to select 739 works for display, according to Tran Khanh Chuong, Chairman of Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

"After exhibitions to display works by the artists of the Indochina Fine Arts School and artists during the French and US wars, now we will display works by artists during the period of renewal, and I hope the artists continue to develop," Chuong said.

Photos of the works can be sent to Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition, 38 Cao Ba Quat Street, Hanoi, before August 25.
VNS