HÀ NỘI — Over 200 modern and traditional designs of applied fine art works by 138 authors throughout the country are on display at the 5th National Fine Arts Exhibition.

The works are finalists selected from 538 entries to a competition launched more than four months ago which saw the participation of 183 authors from 25 localities in the country.

Addressing the exhibition's opening ceremony on Tuesday, culture deputy minister Tạ Quang Đông admitted that the competition is a big cultural event hosted by the ministry and other concerned agencies to praise creative results by domestic artists in the past three years.

Culture Deputy Minister Tạ Quang Đông (second from right) sees works displayed at the exhibition. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

“The event encourages and orientates artists to create and design products with applicability and aesthetic values,” he said. “The event also helps enhance the connection between designers, handicraft artisans, producers, distributors and customers.”

The organisers awarded two sets of prizes including 22 prizes to the most distinguished works of two categories, namely creative design and applicable products.

The creative design prizes include a first prize, two second prizes, three third prizes. The first prize of VNĐ30 million (US$1,269) in cash went to the group of Lê Thị Thu Thảo, Bùi Hạnh Lưu and Trần Thị Lệ Quyên (from Hà Nội FPT University) for the work titled “Unzipped – Support Teenagers on Genders and Prevent Sexual Abuse”.

In the applicable product category, there was no first prize awarded while two second, four third and five encouragement prizes were given.

The works represent modern trends in the foundation of traditional handicraft values. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

Two second prizes, each worth VNĐ20 million were given to Lê Duy Đức (from the northern province of Sơn La) with a work titled Cổ Tự Môn (Gate of Old Pagoda) and Nguyễn Văn Tĩnh (from Hà Nội) with a work titled Bình Hoa Đan Tre (Flower Vase made by Bamboo Knitting).

Deputy Minister Đông said this is a chance for art lovers to see a variety of materials, forms of creation, diversity in graphic art and product design.

“Artists have various fresh ideas and designs with the most up-to-date technology trends and diverse ways of expressions aiming to community benefit,” he said.

The official highlighted that the applicable product category has various products based on a traditional handicraft foundation.

Flower Vase made by Bamboo Knitting by Nguyễn Văn Tĩnh (from Hà Nội). — Photo Courtesy of organisers

“The two categories reflect the present life of Vietnamese applicable fine arts, with traditional values going along with technology development and international design trend,” he said.

The exhibition will run until September 27 at the Việt Nam Museum of Ethnology in Nguyễn Văn Huyên Road, Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội. — VNS