HÀ NỘI – Forty artworks by the Hà Nội Young Artists Club are on display at 16 Ngô Quyền Exhibition House.

The exhibition titled Hand in Hand aims to gather artists, including newcomers and veterans, to meet and display their latest and best artworks.

The exhibition features 20 artists under 30 and 20 artists less than 35 years.

At age 35, Phạm Văn Trường, a graduate from the Industrial Fine Arts College is one of the veteran members of the club. He has participated in the exhibition four times, the first time being in 2009.

His painting titled Xà Thần Biến Hình (Deformed Snake God) is made from Chinese-ink on photographic paper. The painting is 78cm by 108cm in size. Trường made the painting in 2014 to express his inner feelings.

“The Chinese-ink painting technique was made by famous late artist Nguyễn Tuấn Vinh. The artist uses traditional Chinese-ink material to paint on photographic paper, and for bold or light colour scrapes accordingly,” Trường said.

“The club’s exhibition is a good chance for emerging artists to introduce their new works after a long spell of creativity. The exhibition also urges the artists to brainstorm for new ideas.”

Artists Phạm Thuấn and Nguyễn Khắc Hải are newcomers at the exhibition.

Thuấn’s painting titled Thánh Gióng (Saint Gióng) is a 105cm by 105cm oil on canvas.

It is Thuấn’s latest work and features a cute little boy wearing glasses. The two pieces of glass are different – one is plain and the other is fashionable. The image reflected in the fashionable glass is a traditional Vietnamese one of the Saint Gióng.

“The Saint Gióng is a symbol of legendary Vietnamese power. I want to remind young people living a modern life of traditional noble Vietnamese qualities,” Thuấn said.

Meanwhile, a painting by Hải leads to a moment of reflections for the visitors.

The 70cm by 80cm oil on canvas features a white horse on a black background.

“Viewers are free let their imagine run wild when they see the painting. They can transfer their feelings to the horse,” artist Đỗ Hiệp, head of the club, said.

“At the exhibition we encourage the artists to showcase experimental works. The artists can do what they want -- installation, performance, painting or sculpture.”

“It is an opportunity for young artists to express themselves easily, explore and try new ideas,” Hiệp said.

The club has a biannual exhibition held in March and June every year. The exhibition is at 16 Ngô Quyền Street, Hà Nội, until July 4. -- VNS