Former Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK informs about the scandal of 'giving artists' paintings as gifts'

On his personal Facebook page, artist Tran Gia Tung posted an open letter about his paintings and those of three other artists, Le Minh, Tran Trung Thanh, and Tran Manh Linh, being exhibited and used for the wrong purpose without the author's consent.

Bring exhibition paintings as gifts?

The letter was sent by Tran Gia Tung to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the United Kingdom, currently Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade .

In the article, Mr. Tran Gia Tung said that these are works that Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long brought to exhibit in England.

"These paintings were then given away or sold without our knowledge, without any notice or agreement," Artist Tran Gia Tung wrote.

Responding to VTC News Online Newspaper on the evening of March 26, painter Tran Gia Tung said that in 2020, he received a direct invitation from the Embassy in the UK to bring paintings to an exhibition in the UK on the occasion of Vietnam Culture Day.

“When we had completed the visa to go to the UK, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition could not be held. The paintings continued to stay at the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK. After that, these paintings were given away or sold without our knowledge, without receiving any notice or related agreement." Mr. Tung said.

As artistic creators, Mr. Tung said that ownership and copyright of their works must be respected in accordance with Vietnamese law as well as international law on intellectual property.

"Bringing paintings to exhibitions and then transferring them in any form without the author's consent is an act of violating our legal rights. I have 4 paintings that Mr. Long brought to the exhibition on Vietnam Culture Day in 2020. In 2024, after learning that Mr. Long returned to Vietnam to become Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, I demanded the 4 paintings back but Mr. Long blocked all contact," Mr. Tung said.

Mr. Tung said that this is an unacceptable act. "Currently, I want to have my paintings returned or be paid for my three paintings that Mr. Long took to the exhibition, each painting is worth 5,000 USD," painter Tran Gia Tung said.

Artist Tran Gia Tung added that this is not the first time they have sent paintings to the embassy to participate in exhibitions abroad.

A painting by artist Tran Gia Tung was given without permission. (Provided by artist Tran Gia Tung).

According to the process, after receiving an invitation from the embassy, they agree to participate and send the paintings, the embassy will receive them, someone will display and sell the paintings at the exhibition. If the paintings are sold, the artist will receive that amount, the unsold paintings will be returned to Vietnam to the artist.

Mr. Tung also affirmed that he was the first person to use paintings to conduct cultural diplomacy in this way, since 2008. This is the first case he has encountered.

'Very regrettable and sad'

Responding to VTC News Online Newspaper on the evening of March 26, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long said that the Embassy received the exhibition paintings, gave some paintings as high-level diplomatic gifts and sent the remaining paintings through the contact person, young artist Tran Trung Thanh.

According to former ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long, the Embassy did not know what the other artists wanted because it only worked in agreement with artist Tran Trung Thanh. It also did not know about the prices of the paintings because the purpose was only to hold an exhibition, promote Vietnamese art, give gifts to some high-ranking British leaders, and sent them back to artist Thanh as agreed.

“The group of artists did not agree with artist Thanh, so the Embassy did not know about this issue. The Embassy only worked and received paintings for events promoting foreign culture from artist Thanh and agreed with artist Thanh. In fact, the activities were very successful, contributing to enhancing the position of Vietnam's foreign image in the UK,” Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long emphasized.

According to the former ambassador, the Embassy and artist Thanh have a close relationship and good cooperation.

Artist Thanh sent paintings to the embassy without a receipt, without specifying which paintings were by whom. The embassy, in its work of promoting the image and culture of Vietnam, gave a few high-level foreign paintings and sent them back to Thanh (also without a receipt of which paintings or who they belonged to) as agreed. This has been done for many years.

“I think the artists who have worked with the Embassy understand and appreciate the Embassy. When artist Thanh asked him to bring his paintings to exhibitions and do foreign affairs, he praised them highly, because it brought fame to the artists and did not cost them any money, nor did he give them a receipt or say the price of the paintings. Now, after many years of internal strife, he has come back to ask the Embassy for a few paintings and charged them. This is very regrettable and sad.” Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long said.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long was born on April 19, 1976, in Hanoi. He has a PhD in Economics from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.

From 1999 to present, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long has worked in the diplomatic sector and held many positions: Assistant Director, European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Deputy Director, European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Italy; Deputy Director, Acting Director and then Director of the Foreign Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since June 2021, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long has been Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the United Kingdom, concurrently serving in Northern Ireland.

On June 4, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed Decision No. 476 on the transfer and appointment of Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to hold the position of Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/cuu-dai-su-viet-nam-tai-anh-thong-tin-viec-lum-xum-mang-tranh-cua-hoa-si-lam-qua-tang-5042266.html