Looking back at 100 years of creating modern Vietnamese fine arts

Most of the works in the exhibition "100 years of modern art - collection of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum" are rarely displayed or have never been published. Each work shows diversity in materials and richness in form, contributing to telling the story of the journey of creating modern Vietnamese art.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong speaks at the event. (Photo: VNFAM)

In order to introduce to the public a different perspective on the country's modern fine arts, on November 14, the opening ceremony of the exhibition "100 years of modern fine arts - collection of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum" took place in Hanoi .

The event is part of a series of activities to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Indochina University of Fine Arts - Vietnam University of Fine Arts, organized by the school in collaboration with the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts.

Living proof of the journey to create modern art

Speaking at the exhibition, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong shared: "Over the past 100 years, the school has inherited and promoted the quintessence of previous generations, and at the same time, closely associated with each stage of the nation's revolutionary history. From the arduous resistance war to the period of renovation and international integration, generations of teachers and students of the school have always strived to be creative and make positive contributions to the state's cultural and artistic front."

Remember, exactly 1 century ago, the Indochina College of Fine Arts opened its first course, opening a period of strong innovation for Vietnamese fine arts through the absorption of the quintessence of Western plastic arts. This exhibition is a vivid testament to the school's journey of a century of formation and development.

"Each work on display is the crystallization of talent, passion and creative aspiration. At the same time, it reflects the typical artistic values ​​and historical values ​​in the development process 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," said Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong.

Since the first course of the Indochina College of Fine Arts opened in November 1925, this first academic fine arts school in Indochina has become the cradle that has "nurtured" many generations of talented artists, creators and art researchers, making an important contribution to the creation of modern Vietnamese fine arts.

Most of the representative works are kept at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum and gathered in the exhibition "100 years of modern art - collection of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum".

Public viewing.

The training history of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts is divided into two major periods: from 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.

The period from 1925 to 1945 was the first step to create the foundation for the systematic and correct formation of a new fine art through the policy of integrating Asian aesthetic feelings and thoughts with European plastic science. This period created the Indochinese style of modern Vietnamese fine art that was recognized in the international arena.

The school always inherits the achievements of previous stages and changes flexibly to meet the tasks of developing national fine arts with its own identity in adapting and expanding the artistic range, towards international integration. The preservation of excellent works of students is also carried out, showing the exploration and desire for innovation in artistic language in reflecting the life of the country, with rich content and themes.

Each work on display is the crystallization of talent, passion and creative aspiration. At the same time, it reflects the typical artistic values ​​and historical values ​​in the development process of Vietnamese fine arts.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong

It can be seen that, in both periods from 1925-1945 and from 1945 to present, the school's training programs have always been improved and flexibly changed to adapt to the development of art, meet social needs and urgent tasks of life. This has contributed to affirming the attachment and role of the Indochina College of Fine Arts and the Vietnam University of Fine Arts in the process of creating modern fine arts and serving the country throughout the past 100 years.

According to Dr. Dang Thi Phong Lan, Principal of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, the collection introduced this time also brings to the public a part of the appearance of modern Vietnamese fine arts. In addition, the coordination between the organizing units also shows the trend of diverse and effective cooperation in introducing, promoting and fostering the development of culture and art in the era of strong development of the country.

"All the works in this exhibition have outstanding aesthetic, ideological, and technical characteristics of the historical periods of modern Vietnamese art from 1925 to the present. In particular, they were created by generations of teachers and students of the Indochina College of Fine Arts and the Vietnam University of Fine Arts over the past century," added Dr. Dang Thi Phong Lan.

The unique appearance of Vietnamese fine arts

The exhibition, which reflects 100 years of modern art, features approximately 150 paintings, statues and reliefs, carefully selected from the collections of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, and contributions from the artist’s family, People’s Artist Ngo Manh Lan and the A&V Foundation. Most of the works are rarely exhibited or have never been published.

Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum Nguyen Anh Minh informed: "More than 60% of the works in the modern art collection were created by painters and sculptors who were teachers and students of the Indochina College of Fine Arts, now the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. Many painters have become famous artists... Many works have become national treasures such as: " Young girl in the garden" - "Landscape" by Nguyen Gia Tri, " Em Thuy" by Tran Van Can, " Two young girls and a baby" by To Ngoc Van, " Giong" by Nguyen Tu Nghiem...".

Director of Vietnam Fine Arts Museum Nguyen Anh Minh shared at the exhibition opening ceremony.

Each work is presented with a variety of materials and rich forms, contributing to telling a full and vivid story about the journey of building a unique image of Vietnamese fine arts: both imbued with national spirit and carrying the breath of the times.

The exhibition consists of consecutive sections: French teachers - inspiration for students and modern Vietnamese fine arts; Indochina Fine Arts School (1925-1945) - students yearning for a new face of national fine arts; College of Fine Arts (1945-1957) - the transformation from Indochina fine arts to revolutionary fine arts serving the resistance war; Vietnam Fine Arts College (1957-1981) - transforming Indochina fine arts heritage into socialist realist fine arts; Hanoi University of Fine Arts (1981-2008) - innovation along the integration journey; Vietnam University of Fine Arts (2008 to present) - integration and expansion of art.

Each work is presented with a variety of materials and rich forms, contributing to telling a full and vivid story about the journey of building a unique image of Vietnamese fine arts: both imbued with national spirit and carrying the breath of the times.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Nghia Phuong, Vice Principal of Vietnam University of Fine Arts shared: "To have this exhibition, we had to spend 1.5 years preparing. The goal of the exhibition is to introduce to the public the works of art created by generations of students and lecturers of the school that are being kept at the school and museum. Thereby, let the public see something new that has never been seen before, a different perspective on modern Vietnamese fine arts.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition took place on the grounds of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, attracting the attention of a large public.

Through the works introduced at the exhibition, generations of artists have together created sweet melodies of colors and shapes, of emotions and intelligence, and the spirit for a modern fine art rich in national identity.

Within the framework of the event, the Victor Tardieu Award Ceremony also took place, attracting the attention of art lovers. This award is named after the first principal and founder of the Indochina University of Fine Arts. He is considered the founder of modern Vietnamese fine arts, contributing to the formation of the first generation of painters in our country. The Victor Tardieu Award is awarded to the best graduation works of 2025 by students of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts.

The exhibition "100 years of modern art - collection of Vietnam University of Fine Arts and Vietnam Fine Arts Museum" lasts until November 22 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi).

CHIEU ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhin-lai-dong-chay-100-nam-kien-tao-nen-my-thuat-hien-dai-viet-nam-post923035.html