HCM CITY — The fourth HCM City Biennale Art Exhibition for Young Artists opened at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum on Thursday.

The event, organised by the city Fine Arts Association and University of Fine Arts and their partners, showcases 145 works by 107 artists aged 18 to 45.

The works include paintings, sculptures, videos and installation art in a range of mediums like oil, acrylic, watercolour, lacquer, ceramic, and wood.

They reflect contemporary issues and Vietnamese landscapes and people.

The organisers received 188 works by artists in 15 cities and provinces and chose 145 for the show.

They also awarded prizes, with the first prize going to an installation work, Những Đôi Mắt Phù Sa (People on the Alluvial Land), by Nguyễn Phương Quyên, Trần Thị Sương and Nguyễn Ngọc Giang Thanh.

Two second prizes were given to lacquer painting Nhà Thờ (Church) by Hồ Thị Ngọc Anh and installation work Phố (Street) by Nguyễn Hoài Huyền Vũ.

The exhibition’s art council consisting of experienced artists also gave away eight other prizes.

Nguyễn Trung Tín, head of the council, said: “Most of entries are paintings. We hope to see more contemporary works like video art and installation, but they are rare.

“We see the maturity and skills of young artists who enter high-quality works. But we are sorry to not see any outstanding artists.”

The exhibition will go on until May 1. The museum is at 97A Phó Đức Chính Street, District 1.

The Biennale Art Exhibition for Young Artists, first held in 2009, aims to discover new talent in the arts community. — VNS