Opening of the exhibition '100 years of modern art'

(CLO) On November 14, in Hanoi, the opening ceremony of the exhibition "100 years of modern fine arts - collection of Vietnam University of Fine Arts and Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts" took place.

Delegates cut the ribbon to open the exhibition "100 years of Modern Art".

The exhibition will be on display from November 14 to November 22, 2025 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi ). The event is an important milestone in the series of activities celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Indochina College of Fine Arts - the cradle of modern Vietnamese fine arts.

The exhibition is the result of close, reliable and sustainable coordination for the goal of developing advanced Vietnamese fine arts imbued with national identity.

Here, more than 150 paintings, statues, and reliefs from the collection of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and contributions from the A&V Foundation and the family of artist Ngo Manh Lan are on display. The works are presented with a variety of materials and rich forms, telling the fullest possible story about the school's training journey.

The exhibition is displayed in 6 parts: French teachers - a source of inspiration for students and modern Vietnamese fine arts; Students yearning for a new face of national fine arts (1925 - 1945); The transformation from Indochina fine arts to revolutionary fine arts serving the resistance war (1945 - 1957); Transforming Indochina fine arts heritage into socialist realist fine arts (1957 - 1981); Innovation along the integration journey (1981 - 2008); Integration and expansion of art 2008 - present).

Mr. Ta Quang Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism delivered the opening speech at the Exhibition "100 Years of Modern Fine Arts - Collection of Vietnam University of Fine Arts and Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts".

At the Opening Ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong shared: “ Today's exhibition is a vivid testament to the 100-year journey of formation and development of the school. Each work on display is the crystallization of talent, passion and creative aspiration, while reflecting the typical characteristics and artistic values ​​of each historical period in the development of Vietnamese fine arts. This is not only the pride of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, but also a precious cultural asset of the nation, demonstrating the confidence, mettle and integration spirit of Vietnamese art in the global flow".

After the August Revolution in 1945, the country entered an era of independence and freedom. The Indochina Fine Arts School changed its name to the Vietnam Fine Arts School, then the Vietnam University of Fine Arts as it is today. Over the past 100 years, the school has inherited and promoted the quintessence of previous generations, while closely associated with each historical, revolutionary and integration stage of the nation.

“ The exhibition is also an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and honor generations of principals, lecturers, painters, and sculptors who have been committed to and dedicated to the country's fine arts career - from those who laid the first foundations such as Victor Tardieu, Évariste Jonchère, To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can, to famous painters and talented sculptors such as Nguyen Phan Chanh, Nguyen Gia Tri, Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Diep Minh Chau, Pham Gia Giang, ... and many other generations of artists. All of them have created a unique appearance and identity for Vietnamese fine arts" - Deputy Minister Ta Quang Dong emphasized.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts, spoke at the opening ceremony.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, said that the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts is a special occasion to look back on the journey of modern fine arts in Vietnam. At the same time, he also emphasized the special role of painter Nguyen Do Cung, a student of the 5th course of the Indochina University of Fine Arts, who laid the foundation and development direction for the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

The museum is currently preserving and honoring many valuable collections of generations of artists across the country. Notably, 60% of the works in the Modern Collection are creations of painters, sculptors, lecturers and students of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. This demonstrates that the relationship between the museum and the school continues to be strong as a natural process of training - creation - preservation - promotion, contributing to nurturing and spreading the good values ​​of Vietnamese fine arts to the domestic and international public.

The training history of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts is divided into two major periods: 1925 - 1945 and from 1945 onwards with many small segments. Each period has its own characteristics and is closely linked to the historical and social context and the dominant ideology in the country.

The first stage (1925 - 1945) was the first steps to create the foundation for the systematic and correct formation of a new fine arts through the policy of integrating Asian aesthetic feelings and thoughts with European plastic science. Next was the stage from the August Revolution in 1945, the training career of the School continuously grew and the school followed the National - Scientific - Mass policy, the school applied the method of studying combined with work, studying in work, taking the working people and soldiers as the objects of service.

The public visits the exhibition "100 years of Modern Art".

Within the framework of the event, the Organizing Committee awarded 7 Victor Tardieu Awards. This is the first award named after the Principal of the Indochina University of Fine Arts for the best graduating works of 2025 by students of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. The award structure includes 1 special award and 6 awards for each major and specialty.

Source: https://congluan.vn/khai-mac-trien-lam-100-nam-my-thuat-hien-dai-10317773.html