“Hung Vuong builds the country” (oil on canvas, created in 1990, artist Vinh Phoi)

Collect more valuable works

The talented painter Ton That Dao graduated from the Indochina Fine Arts College and was the first principal of the Hue College of Fine Arts. Currently, his private residence still preserves more than 30 works. His paintings are very rare on the market. If the above collection "deal" is successful, the Hue Museum of Fine Arts will own the second work of painter Ton That Dao. Many years ago, after many negotiations, this museum owned the work "Young girl beside lotus" (silk, 50x70cm).

Ms. Dinh Thi Hoai Trai, Director of the Hue Museum of Fine Arts, said that the paintings of artist Ton That Dao are currently very valuable and not many on the market, so they will try to collect them. In addition, the museum also wants to find the family to find out and collect them at the right address, ensuring the correct origin.

“Scenery in the Garden” is made of silk, measuring 45x85cm, and was created by artist Ton That Dao in 1955. The setting of the work is a large garden with a screen, a rockery, trees, birds, etc. Nearby are many people, most of whom are young women in flowing ao dai, walking and playing. “This is a rare silk painting by Mr. Dao. Looking at it, we can see the typical Hue scenery, associated with the garden house of the ancient capital,” a nephew of the late artist’s family shared.

This time, there are 3 other works included in the proposed collection list, including: "Hung Vuong builds the country" (oil painting, created in 1990, artist Vinh Phoi), "The engagement ceremony of the K'Tu people" (wood painting, created in 2022, sculptor Molokai) and "Portrait" (oil painting, created in 2020, artist Vu Duy Tam).

The budget for collecting works this year is about 2 billion VND. This is considered a modest amount to invest in collecting valuable works of art for a young museum like the Hue Museum of Fine Arts. However, the museum's efforts are noteworthy as in recent years it has successfully collected many works by famous artists associated with the ancient capital such as Ton That Dao, Ton That Sa, Ton That Van, Buu Chi, Mai Trung Thu, Hoang Dang Nhuan, Truong Be, Do Ky Hoang, Vinh Phoi, Dinh Cuong, Phan Xuan Sanh, Vo Xuan Huy, etc.

Don't know where to hang it?

According to Ms. Dinh Thi Hoai Trai, Director of Hue Museum of Fine Arts, with the priority collection criteria for each period, in the past, the collection work focused on the works of famous painters and sculptors - who are Hue people; living, studying and working in Hue - artists who have contributed to building Hue fine arts, from the first decades of the 20th century to the present. The majority of artists and artists' families are still living in Hue, so the collection work has many advantages in researching, surveying and directly exchanging with artists or artists' families to select good works for the museum.

However, Ms. Trai said that the funding from the local budget for purchasing fine art works is increasingly limited, while works of value suitable for museums are expensive. This will be an obstacle in choosing and purchasing good works of artists.

“After nearly 6 years of establishment, the museum has not yet been arranged with a headquarters and facilities to organize exhibitions, so the fine art works that the museum has collected in the past have only been stored and preserved, so they cannot serve the needs of the public for viewing, researching and learning. This also brings many concerns and worries to artists and artists’ families when deciding to transfer works to the museum as well as organizations and individuals who donate works to the museum,” Ms. Trai worried.

Article and photos: NHAT MINH