HÀ NỘI — Artworks inspired by the beauty of feminity are on display at an exhibition in Hà Nội.

The ‘Mascara’ exhibition showcases artworks by prominent contemporary painters such as Nguyễn Nghĩa Cương, Bùi Thanh Tâm, Vũ Đình Tuấn, Nguyễn Thế Hùng, and sculptor Lương Đức Hùng.

The event is organised by Tràng Tiền Plaza and the independent art organisation – Real Art, aiming to bring art closer to the public.

Explaining the name of the exhibition, Trịnh Minh Tiến, founder of Real Art, said mascara is a word that evocatives of music and vitality.

“Speaking of mascara, people immediately think of it as an ancient makeup tool for the eyes of women,” he said. “Mascara implicates women’s instinct to make up. It is a tool for them to make themselves beautiful, to create highlights to attract, even create a mask to fascinate others.”

“The exhibits are not just women’s portraits, they are the faces of our times, representing the new cultural strata, the breath of the modern age. The exhibition expresses the creative spirit of Vietnamese contemporary artists who are always looking for a change, and an escape from old motifs and images.”

Vietnamese girl, a painting by Bùi Thanh Tâm. — VNS Photo Minh Thu

Women’s portraits in Đông Hồ folk paintings, statues in ancient temples and pagodas and artworks by Vietnamese artists in the early 19th century all show the soft beauty of tolerance, modesty and shyness.

In the second half of the 19th century, portraits of women in the wars of resistance had a remarkable change: their beauty was depicted as strong, dynamic, assuring, attached to sacrifice and taking on the responsibility of their times.

Portraits of contemporary women feature various beauties with more colours, various shapes and different concepts, reflecting the fact that women and artists have more opportunities to express themselves nowadays.

“In this exhibition, visitors will see the contemporary artists have surpassed all boundaries to portray women’s soul and body,” said Tiến.

“They find inspiration from the beauty of women in different periods to create their own characters.”

Crossing the River, a silk painting by Vũ Đình Tuấn. — VNS Photo Minh Thu

Nguyễn Thế Hùng is inspired by pin-up paintings. He often uses the image of models on posters or magazines combined with the patterns of historic Vietnamese architecture.

“To me, this blend reflects the integration and ongoing conflict between traditional and modern elements and at the same time, its influence alters social values and core attitudes,” he said.

“This process evokes concerns about the quality of culture, society, morality as well as art, thus it fosters my creative energy.”  

The exhibition will run until September 15 at Tràng Tiền Plaza, 24 Hai Bà Trưng Street, Hà Nội. — VNS