Vietnam's Contemporary Art Scene Gains International Attention
The contemporary art scene in Vietnam is attracting global interest, highlighted by notable auction outcomes at Sotheby's in 2022. Lê Thiên Bảo, curator at the Factory Contemporary Arts Centre, emphasizes the varied influences on artists, dismissing geographical labels. The distinction lies between diaspora figures such as Dinh Q. Lê and Tiffany Chung and local talents like Bùi Công Khánh and Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng. Traditional methods, including lacquer and silk painting, are being innovatively approached, exemplified by the Le Brothers' lacquer series from 2017. Female artists like Nguyễn Thị Châu Giang tackle issues affecting women. Meanwhile, a new wave of artists is delving into rural and urban themes as the art market transitions from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, creating fresh art venues and curatorial opportunities.
Key facts
- Vietnam's contemporary art reached significant auction prices at Sotheby's only last year.
- Artists are often categorized geographically by foreign experts, but curator Lê Thiên Bảo rejects this.
- The only accepted categorization is between diaspora artists (Viêt Kiêu) and local artists.
- Traditional lacquer painting was introduced as fine art by French painter Joseph Inguimberty in early 20th century Hanoi.
- The Le Brothers created a lacquer series on canvas in 2017.
- Silk painting is being reinterpreted with overlapping panels and conceptual space.
- Female artist Nguyễn Thị Châu Giang uses silk painting to address women's issues.
- A new generation of artists produces experimental works, performance, and video art.
- The art market center is shifting from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.
- New art spaces and curator training programs are emerging in Ho Chi Minh City.
Entities
Artists
- Lê Thiên Bảo
- Ngô Văn Sắc
- Len Q. Lê
- Dinh Q. Lê
- Tiffany Chung
- Richard Streitmatter-Tran
- UuDam Tran Nguyen
- Bùi Công Khánh
- Ha Manh Thang
- Nguyễn Trung
- Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng
- Lê Quý Tông
- Đinh Thị Thắm Poong
- Nguyễn Thế Sın
- Lê Đức Hải
- Joseph Inguimberty
- Le Brothers
- Lê Ngọc Thanh
- LÍ –ức Hải
- Snežana Golubović
- Nguyễn Thị Châu Giang
- Phạm Ph˝ıng C˙c
- Sandrine Llouquet
- Diana Cicognini
Institutions
- Sotheby's
- Factory Contemporary Arts Centre
- New Space Arts Foundation
- École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine
- CUC Gallery
- Salon Saigon
- Artribune
Locations
- Vietnam
- Hanoi
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Saigon
- Hué
- France
- America
- Europe
- Asia
- China
- Japan