HÀ NỘI — Artist Phạm Thuấn won the first prize at the painting contest held by Korean Cultural Centre and Vietnamese culture ministry’s department of exhibition, photography and fine arts.

The award ceremony was held on Tuesday to honour the winners including second prize Lê Anh and third prize Nguyễn Ngọc Thanh.

“It is a really big surprise for me," said Thuấn. "When I decided to take part in the contest, I just thought that it would be a good chance for me to show my paintings."

Entitled Tinh Hoa 2017 (Quintessence 2017) the oil-on-canvas, 120cm-by-146cm painting features a young girl and a man behind in Korean traditional hanbok costume with a background including a dish of kimchi, leaves representing for ginseng and national flower of Korea. 

"I chose quintessence as my theme because I think that it could include everything from cuisine, costume and art. I didn’t know much about Korea culture until I particiapted in the contest," said the artist. 

After graduating from Việt Nam Academy of Fine Arts (VAFA) in 2011, Thuấn has worked as designer for different companies. His works were selected to display at the National Fine Arts Exhibition 2015 and the Fine Arts Exhibition of the Red River Delta Area in 2013. 

The first prize will include a visit to Korea and a solo exhibition at the cultural centre. 

The painting contest, entitled Korea, Traditional and Modern is one of many activities in different fields to celebrate the 25th diplomatic relationship between Việt Nam and  south Korea in 2017. 

It was held for local artists under the age of 45 to discover Korean culture and promote cultural exchange between the two countries. 14 finalists’ works are on display at the centre until July 16, 49 Nguyễn Du Street.

This is the second time a painting contest for Vietnamese artists was held by the cultural centre with financial support of Hanse Yes24 Culture Fund. — VNS