Opening of the exhibition '100 Years of Modern Art'

(CLO) On November 14th, the opening ceremony of the exhibition "100 Years of Modern Fine Arts - Collections from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts" took place in Hanoi.

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the exhibition "100 Years of Modern Art".

The exhibition will be on display from November 14th to November 22nd, 2025 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi ). This event marks a significant milestone in the series of activities commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Indochina Fine Arts School – the cradle of modern Vietnamese art.

The exhibition is the result of close, reliable, and sustainable collaboration aimed at developing advanced Vietnamese art with a strong national identity.

Here, more than 150 paintings, sculptures, and reliefs from the collections of the Vietnam Fine Arts University, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and contributions from the A&V Foundation and the family of artist Ngo Manh Lan are on display. These works, presented in a variety of materials and forms, will tell the most complete story possible about the school's training journey.

The exhibition is organized into six sections: French teachers - a source of inspiration for Vietnamese students and modern art; Students yearning for a new face of national art (1925 - 1945); The transition from Indochinese art to revolutionary art serving the resistance (1945 - 1957); Transformation of Indochinese art heritage into socialist realist art (1957 - 1981); Innovation along the journey of integration (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 - Collections from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the 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 the school's formation and development. Each exhibited work is the culmination of talent, dedication, and creative aspirations, while also reflecting the typical artistic characteristics and values ​​of each historical period in the development of Vietnamese fine arts. This is not only a source of pride for the Vietnam Fine Arts University, but also a precious cultural asset of the nation, demonstrating the confidence, resilience, and integration spirit of Vietnamese art in the global flow.”

After the August Revolution of 1945, the country entered an era of independence and freedom. The Indochina School of Fine Arts was renamed the Vietnam School of Fine Arts, and then the Vietnam University of Fine Arts as it is today. For the past 100 years, the school has inherited and developed the excellence of previous generations, while remaining closely connected to each stage of the nation's history, revolution, and integration.

“ The exhibition is also an opportunity for us to express our gratitude and honor the generations of principals, lecturers, painters, and sculptors who have dedicated themselves to the national art scene – from those who laid the first foundations such as Victor Tardieu, Évariste Jonchère, Tô Ngọc Vân, Trần Văn Cẩn, to talented painters and sculptors such as Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Nguyễn Gia Trí, Nguyễn Sáng, Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm, Diệp Minh Châu, Phạm Gia Giang, ... and many other generations of artists. All of them have created the unique appearance and identity of Vietnamese art,” Deputy Minister Tạ Quang Đông emphasized.

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

Dr. Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, said that the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam Fine Arts University is a special occasion to look back on the journey of modern Vietnamese art. He also emphasized the special role of painter Nguyen Do Cung, a student of the 5th graduating class of the Indochina Fine Arts School, who laid the foundation and guided the development of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

The museum currently houses and celebrates many valuable collections from generations of artists nationwide. Notably, 60% of the works in the Modern Collection are creations by painters, sculptors, lecturers, and students of the Vietnam Fine Arts University. This demonstrates the continued strong and natural relationship between the museum and the university, encompassing training, creation, preservation, and promotion, contributing to nurturing and spreading the beautiful values ​​of Vietnamese art to the public both domestically and internationally.

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

The initial period (1925-1945) marked the beginning of laying the foundation for the systematic and proper formation of a new art form through the principle of integrating the aesthetic sensibilities and ideas of East Asia with European visual arts. Following this, from the August Revolution of 1945 onwards, the school's training activities continuously grew, and it followed the national-scientific-popular approach, applying a method of learning combined with work, learning within work, and serving the working people and the army.

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

Within the framework of the event, the Organizing Committee awarded seven Victor Tardieu Prizes. This is the first award named after the Rector of the Indochina School of Fine Arts, given to the best graduation works of 2025 by students of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. The award structure includes one special prize and six prizes for each field and specialization.

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