Gia Lai opens two large-scale, unique art exhibitions

Attending the exhibition were Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Huu Que - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Vo Hoang Binh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Le Thi Thu Huong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Meritorious Artist Dang Cong Hung - Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association; Professor, Doctor, sculptor Nguyen Xuan Tien - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association and many artists specializing in fine arts from the two localities of Gia Lai and Ho Chi Minh City.

Delegates cut the ribbon to open the exhibition. **Photo: Lam Nguyen**

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Le Thanh Tuan - Director of Pleiku Museum informed: Painter Xu Man's real name is Siu Dong, a Bahnar ethnic, born in 1925 in De Kral village (now Plei Bong, Ayun commune, Gia Lai province). Before 1954, he and his whole family worked as servants for the village chief, living in poverty, his parents passed away early. In 1954, painter Xu Man became enlightened and followed the revolution.

After being sent to Hanoi to study culture and fine arts to serve the revolution and the people, painter Xu Man has devoted more than 40 years to pursuing the path of painting. He has painted thousands of works of many genres and sizes, and participated in many fine arts and painting exhibitions. He also participated in fine arts training for cultural officials in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Kon Tum (formerly) for many years.

Delegates visit the exhibition. **Photo: Lam Nguyen**

Currently, not counting the works in private collections at home and abroad, domestic museums alone collect, display and store more than 100 works of this talented artist. The major themes in his paintings include: Uncle Ho and the people of the Central Highlands, the Central Highlands resistance, the Central Highlands in the village festival, and the Central Highlands renovation.

In addition, propaganda paintings and soldier portraits were also the subjects he often painted to serve the revolution and cultural work. At the end of his life, he painted many works about daily life, commemorating the past years.

With his great achievements and contributions to Vietnam's fine arts, in 2012, painter Xu Man was posthumously awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts in the field of fine arts. In June 2025, the house of painter Xu Man in Plei Bong was ranked as a provincial-level relic by the Gia Lai Provincial People's Committee.

There are 50 original works by artist Xu Man on display at the exhibition. **Photo: Lam Nguyen**

From November 15 to 25, the exhibition "Artistic Heritage of Painter Xu Man" took place at the Special Room - Pleiku Museum with 3 parts of content: Life and career of painter Xu Man; His artistic heritage and Xu Man in the hearts of friends and future generations.

The exhibition displays 120 works created by artist Xu Man from the 1960s to 2000. Among them are more than 50 original works; along with paintings copied from the collections of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, Military Zone 5 Museum (Da Nang), and Army Corps 34 Museum (Gia Lai). The exhibition also introduces to the public many images, artifacts, and documents related to the life and career of artist Xu Man.

At the ceremony, Pleiku Museum received 5 paintings and sculptures of Xu Man, presented by painter Nguyen Thanh Son (Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association), sculptor Nguyen Vinh, painter Nguyen Van Chung, artist Hung Hoa Lu (Gia Lai Literature and Arts Association) and artisan Dinh Xam (Dak Po commune).

Mr. Le Thanh Tuan - Director of Pleiku Museum received the portrait of painter Xu Man by painter Nguyen Thanh Son, presented by the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association. **Photo: Lam Nguyen**

*On the same morning, the exhibition with the theme "Reconciliation" also opened at the Pleiku Museum campus and the Ho Chi Minh Museum lobby, displaying 80 works by artists from Ho Chi Minh City and Gia Lai.

With 45 sculptures and 35 paintings, the exhibition consists of two parts: Painting from the great forest to the city; Sculpture connects creativity and spreads identity. The above cultural event is organized to create opportunities to introduce the works of painters and sculptors from the two provinces and cities to the public; to meet the needs of artists' activities and artistic creations as well as to serve the spiritual life of the people and tourists.

At the exhibition, 7 painters and sculptors from Ho Chi Minh City donated their works to Pleiku Museum and the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, affirming the spirit of connection and harmony of the event.

Below are some of the works on display at the exhibition. The event runs through November 25.