HÀ NỘI — Artworks inspired by conflicting fragments of lives, people and turmoil during wartime in Việt Nam are on display at an exhibition of paintings and sculptures in Malaysia.

Entitled Fractured, the exhibition explores the fragility of beauty inspired by conflict in Việt Nam and Southeast Asia.

Monaco-based artist Blake Ward showcases sculptures in which he aims to draw attention to the suffering of landmine victims in Việt Nam.

He has exhibited across the world including Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada, the US and Hong Kong, and has galleries in the US, Canada and Italy.

“My language is the figure and I feel the need to comment on the human condition, sometimes distorted by demons, and other times enchanted by all that is pure within us,” he said. 

Painter George Burchett, who was born in Hà Nội, introduces The Resistence series depicting the narratives of heroic resistance. He was influenced strongly by his father, Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett, who worked as a war correspondent in Việt Nam.

Senseless: A painting by Phan Kế An, Hà Nội Christmas Bombing of 1972.

The exhibition also displays paintings by soldier-artist Phạm Văn Lực, young talent Phan Đình Khánh and veteran painter Phan Kế An.

The exhibition will run until September 3 at the end of the George Town Festival, Penang, Malaysia.

It’s a part of the George Town Festival, an annual celebration of arts, culture, heritage, and community.

Inaugurated in 2010 in honour of George Town’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the festival transforms the city into a global stage, showcasing world-class performances, installations and collaborations from international and local artists.

“The festival seeks to create new and vibrant connections between the traditional and the contemporary, the past and the future,” said festival director Joe Sidek.

With more than 100 showcases, the month-long programmes vary from art, design, photography, film, workshops, music, dance to drama as well as site-specific installations. The festival draws thousands of visitors each year. — VNS