A new exhibition entitled Chan Dung Hanoi (Hanoi Portraits) is giving abroad overview of the capital city's contemporary art scene at theMaison des Art.
The exhibition gathers works by 58 members of the Hanoi Fine ArtsAssociation, plus three international painters and two Americanphotographers.
American painter Dan Potter first had the idea forthe exhibition two years ago when he happened to ask Maison des Artdirector Nguyen Nga why she didn't display portraits by local artists.
"We developed this idea with the intention of linking painters with different styles," Nga said.
Onthe first visit to Viet Nam in 2003, Potter said he was attracted bythe beauty of the capital city and its citizens. For several years, hehas spent two to four months per year in Hanoi, walking the streets andphotographing city residents.
"Going back to the US after myfirst months in Hanoi, I suffered and missed Hanoi very much," Pottersaid. "So I decided to come back. Every time I look at the people ofHanoi, I feel like I understand more about myself."
Painters inthe exhibition have depicted a wide variety of individuals, includinglate painter Bui Xuan Phai, legendary poetess Ho Xuan Huong and composerNguyen Cuong, as well as Vietnamese heroic mothers, soldiers, andfriends.
The work of painter Hong Nam Thai is represented in the exhibition with his lacquer portrait of Phai.
"Throughimpressions in conversations and sketches, I painted emotionally atalented artist who had a simple lifestyle and overcame poverty," saidThai. "The artists [in the exhibition] do not paint what they see. Theypaint what they feel about their characters."
Living in Hanoi forthe past five years, where he teaches at the University of Hanoi,Douglas Jardine has expresses his love for the city through hisphotographs of its residents.
"Hanoians have made a bigimpression on me because I love this city," Jardine said. "Now I teachthe first ever-class on the history of Hanoi at the university. In myfree time, I walk around Hanoi and take photos of beautiful Hanoians.Hanoi is my subject."
On the opening day of the exhibition, manyvisitors had an opportunity to have their portraits painted by membersof association. Although having a portrait at home, poet Bang Viet stillasked painter Bui Anh Hung to draw another.
"The acrylic picturewas painted in about one hour," Viet said. "I think that this is a veryinteresting exercise because everyone wants to know how they are seenin another person's eyes."
The exhibition runs through Avril 10at 31A Van Mieu Street, Hanoi, with most of the proceeds to be donatedfor Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.
"The exhibition is beingheld with the aim to help member artists exchange with foreignartists," said association chairwoman Pham Kim Binh. "We are introducingthe faces of Hanoians and of the Vietnamese people in general, whileconveying the message that we stand beside Japanese people and sharetheir pain."./.
The exhibition gathers works by 58 members of the Hanoi Fine ArtsAssociation, plus three international painters and two Americanphotographers.
American painter Dan Potter first had the idea forthe exhibition two years ago when he happened to ask Maison des Artdirector Nguyen Nga why she didn't display portraits by local artists.
"We developed this idea with the intention of linking painters with different styles," Nga said.
Onthe first visit to Viet Nam in 2003, Potter said he was attracted bythe beauty of the capital city and its citizens. For several years, hehas spent two to four months per year in Hanoi, walking the streets andphotographing city residents.
"Going back to the US after myfirst months in Hanoi, I suffered and missed Hanoi very much," Pottersaid. "So I decided to come back. Every time I look at the people ofHanoi, I feel like I understand more about myself."
Painters inthe exhibition have depicted a wide variety of individuals, includinglate painter Bui Xuan Phai, legendary poetess Ho Xuan Huong and composerNguyen Cuong, as well as Vietnamese heroic mothers, soldiers, andfriends.
The work of painter Hong Nam Thai is represented in the exhibition with his lacquer portrait of Phai.
"Throughimpressions in conversations and sketches, I painted emotionally atalented artist who had a simple lifestyle and overcame poverty," saidThai. "The artists [in the exhibition] do not paint what they see. Theypaint what they feel about their characters."
Living in Hanoi forthe past five years, where he teaches at the University of Hanoi,Douglas Jardine has expresses his love for the city through hisphotographs of its residents.
"Hanoians have made a bigimpression on me because I love this city," Jardine said. "Now I teachthe first ever-class on the history of Hanoi at the university. In myfree time, I walk around Hanoi and take photos of beautiful Hanoians.Hanoi is my subject."
On the opening day of the exhibition, manyvisitors had an opportunity to have their portraits painted by membersof association. Although having a portrait at home, poet Bang Viet stillasked painter Bui Anh Hung to draw another.
"The acrylic picturewas painted in about one hour," Viet said. "I think that this is a veryinteresting exercise because everyone wants to know how they are seenin another person's eyes."
The exhibition runs through Avril 10at 31A Van Mieu Street, Hanoi, with most of the proceeds to be donatedfor Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.
"The exhibition is beingheld with the aim to help member artists exchange with foreignartists," said association chairwoman Pham Kim Binh. "We are introducingthe faces of Hanoians and of the Vietnamese people in general, whileconveying the message that we stand beside Japanese people and sharetheir pain."./.
