Love our heritage even more through the colors of painting.

Artist Le Phi Hung (second from the left) won first prize in the 2025 "Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Through Painting" painting competition.

The exhibition presents to the public 100 of the best works selected from 1,320 entries by 990 authors participating in the 2nd "Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Through Painting" painting competition - 2025, organized by the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association.

Compared to the first season in 2023, this year's competition attracted more than double the number of participating authors and contributed 1.5 times the number of entries, resulting in significantly greater diversity in perspectives and modes of expression.

The exhibition takes the public on an inspiring heritage tourism journey, where visitors can stroll and explore the beauty of unique landmarks and architectural relics across the country, such as: the Temple of Literature - National University, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Duong Lam ancient village, Son Tay ancient citadel (Hanoi); Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh); But Thap Pagoda (Bac Ninh); Hue Imperial Citadel complex, Hoi An Bridge Pagoda, My Son Sanctuary (Da Nang); Son Doong Cave (Quang Tri); Ang Pagoda (Vinh Long)...

At the same time, visitors can experience the intangible cultural heritage values of Quan Ho folk singing, Chau Van singing, Ca Tru singing, Hat Boi opera, Nghê dance, Bat dance, water procession festivals, Gau Tao, Long Tong, Po Thi, Ka Te Cham...

From simple legacies present in daily life such as the communal house, the highland market, the conical hat with chin strap, to cultural values preserving the essence of embroidery, pottery, and weaving crafts…

Besides the richness of themes and approaches to heritage, the exhibition also showcases a diversity of styles and materials, such as oil paint, lacquer, acrylic, printmaking, silk, and mixed media. Among them are works that make a strong impression on viewers in both concept and technique. A prime example is "Under the Shadow of a Thousand Years" - the winning entry of the competition, meticulously created by artist Le Phi Hung ( Ho Chi Minh City) over six months.

He shared that he had the opportunity to visit Ngo Quyen Mausoleum one late winter afternoon in 2010. The feeling of both sacredness and peace while walking beneath the thousand-year-old banyan trees – witnesses to the glorious victories of his ancestors – inspired him to conceive the idea and resolve to create this artwork this year to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, and the 1087th anniversary of the Battle of Bach Dang.

The artist uses the carving technique of Dong Ho folk painting artisans to depict details such as tree trunks and leaves on Do paper, creating a subtle blend of traditional and contemporary creativity.

Equally impressive is the acrylic on canvas artwork "Preserving Traditional Cultural Identity" - Second Prize winner of the competition, which recreates the authentic, simple beauty of ancient farming tools that were once deeply connected to our ancestors. Artist Truong Manh Sang ( Thai Nguyen ) drew inspiration from numerous field trips over many years to various highland locations in his homeland, resulting in an artistic composition that is both familiar and imbued with the spirit of the past.

Contributing to the exhibition's special visual effect is "Origins" by Nguyen Tuan Dung (Thanh Hoa). The work consists of 25 small pieces connected by a central axis featuring motifs from Dong Son bronze drums. Using acrylic engraving on a composite material with built-in lighting, the artist impressed many viewers, as the closer they looked, the more clearly and exquisitely the ancient patterns appeared, showcasing the continuous and spreading flow of Vietnamese heritage through various historical periods. Each work not only reflects individual creative effort but also carries a spirit of reverence for heritage.

Artist Le Huy Tiep, Chairman of the Judging Panel, commented: "Although this year's competition did not have an Outstanding Award, the overall quality was more consistent. Many beautiful works appeared, showcasing the dedication and meticulous effort of the authors in the creative process. Notably, nearly half were by young artists, showing that young people are increasingly interested in the cultural heritage of their ancestors."

That is also why the organizing committee of this year's competition decided to add a Young Authors Award category to the prize structure, for authors born from 2000 onwards, in order to encourage and motivate the younger generation to continue to dedicate themselves to preserving and promoting the value of the nation's cultural heritage.

However, according to the organizers, after two seasons, it is still evident that the submitted works lack balance between different types of heritage and historical periods; in particular, there is a noticeable absence of works exploring themes related to historical-revolutionary heritage, the Party, and the modern era.

Comment (0)