A lacquer painting by Đoàn Thúy Hạnh.

HÀ NỘI – An exhibition displaying 50 paintings from 12 different artists opened in Hà Nội downtown yesterday.

Entitled Hợp (Harmony), the exhibition showcases veteran and emerging artists, with a focus on the theme the showcase is named after.

“Someone settles down in a place which may be due to being in harmony with climate, nature, culture and customs of that place,” said the exhibition curator Bích Hạnh.

“Whatever themes, materials or genres they may be, the artists show their individuality. Each artist has an identity, and all get together in this exhibition.”

The exhibition’s only female artist Đoàn Thúy Hạnh debuts her three latest lacquer paintings. She combines the traditional material of Vietnamese lacquer and her own colour-mixing technique to make a bright colours in the paintings.

Many of Hạnh’s paintings portray young girls. One of the paintings depicts a little girl holding a lantern and a flower.

“I love children,” said artist Hạnh. “My paintings at this exhibition are about children who have fun and know how to make fun.”

After graduating from the Hà Nội Industrial Fine Arts College, Hạnh choose children as her subject because of her natural love for them. Her paintings share her children's observations and are made to tell their stories.

Her paintings have been shown in France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore and the Việt Nam National Museum of Fine Arts, though she rarely displays her paintings in Việt Nam.

Many of her works are in private collections around the world.

The Hợp exhibition is the first for Hoàng Bá Linh to display his works in a gallery. He graduated from Hà Nội Open University’s Faculty of Graphic Interior Fashion Design. His favourite material is oil on canvas.

Two paintings by Linh at the exhibition are from a series entitled Nét Việt (Vietnamese Identity), honouring Vietnamese traditional woman’s costume.

One of the Nét Việt series by artist Hoàng Bá Linh.

The paintings with two colours of brass and pearl river feature the beauty of the traditional costume. Linh has worked Nét Việt series for three years.

“It is great for me to display paintings with veteran and established artists at this exhibition,” said Linh. “Through it, I will meet and exchange with the veterans to further my career.”

“I have displayed my works online, but this is the first time my paintings are shown in a gallery. I hope it will allow me to show my works at other exhibitions next time.”

Lê Văn Minh is one of the few veterans at the exhibition. His painting entitled Sợi Chỉ (Thread) focuses on human connection. He uses a simple structure and basic colours of yellow, white, brown and purple to paint three people with wrinkled faces.

Thread by artist Lê Văn Minh.

Minh graduated from Việt Nam Fine Arts College in 1992. He has displayed his paintings in Singapore, Thailand, Switzerland and Malaysia.

Hợp introduces paintings by the other artists like Nguyễn Minh Nam, Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng (Hùng Xoăn), Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng (Hùng rô), Lê Vinh, Bùi Trọng Dư, Nguyễn Hải Nam, Trần Hữu Dũng, Phạm Văn Nghĩa and Nguyễn Quý Tâm.

The exhibition runs until February 19 at 29 Hàng Bài Street. VNS