Telling history through national exhibitions

National Exhibition and Fair Center. (Photo: ND)

From the desire for independence to the desire for creativity

Immediately after the Project was approved by the Government, the Steering Committee and the Organizing Committee were established under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was the standing agency, coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to synchronously implement, maintain progress and overall quality.

Preparations were carried out urgently and systematically, from high-level direction to handling technical details on site. In that plan, the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions assumed the role of a standing unit, directly advising and implementing professional tasks: Developing a project, overall design, arranging exhibition space, decorating the festival, organizing the opening and closing ceremonies and coordinating the general process.

Director Ma The Anh shared: “This is both a responsibility and an honor for us. In that spirit, the Department maximizes its professional strengths, while closely coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to bring about a prestigious exhibition worthy of the 80th anniversary of the country's founding and fully reflecting the country's aspirations to rise up.”

To ensure artistic depth, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has established an Art Council to select works, bringing together leading experts in fine arts, photography, and exhibitions; leaders of management agencies and professional associations; representatives of training institutions; and many prestigious researchers and artists.

This is the core force in the appraisal work, ensuring artistic standards, aesthetic values and diversity of content of the displayed works.

Painter Luong Xuan Doan, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and Chairman of the Arts Council, commented: “The exhibition is a testament to the continuous creative journey and the spirit of continuity of generations of artists. The themes expressed are very diverse, from the image of soldiers, border areas, islands to daily life.

Although it is not possible to display national treasures or works of predecessors due to storage conditions, overall, the exhibition vividly reflects the development journey of Vietnamese fine arts and photography over the past 80 years.

Through many rounds of selection, the Council selected 250 works, including 100 photographs and 150 fine arts, to introduce at the exhibition.

A place where historical memories and artistic quintessence converge

Contributing to that success are the passion and talent of many artists across the country. Each work is a story, a slice of the journey of building and developing the country.

Sculptor Ta Quang Bao, Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts 2016, shared: “This is an opportunity for the public to look back on the nation’s journey through the language of art, and for artists to express their passion and responsibility to the country. I hope the exhibition will inspire new creations, promote exchanges between generations of artists and spread the love of art to the public.”

Besides fine arts, photography also made a strong impression. Journalist and photographer Tran Van Tuan, former reporter of Vietnam News Agency, who has been associated with General Vo Nguyen Giap for more than 35 years, brought to the exhibition valuable works, portraying the legendary General with authentic and emotional moments.

He expressed: “I hope that through this exhibition, the public, especially the younger generation, will be able to perceive historical values through images and better understand the sacrifices, struggles and achievements of the country. This is not only an occasion to pay tribute to the past but also an opportunity to promote the image of Vietnam to the world.”

A notable new feature at the exhibition is the fine art auction conducted by Chon Auction House, combined with a space for experiencing lacquer painting.

These two activities not only help increase interaction, bringing art closer to the public, but also affirm the economic value of Vietnamese fine arts, so that viewers can better understand and appreciate the artists' creative process.

The Organizing Committee hopes that through this, the love of art will spread strongly, contributing to promoting Vietnamese culture to a wide audience at home and abroad, spreading the value of Vietnamese fine arts and photography and promoting the country's image to the world.

DO NGOC XIEM

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ke-chuyen-lich-su-qua-trien-lam-quoc-gia-post901559.html