Engrossed: A visitor studies Bùi Hữu Hùng’s The Scene of Sword Lake. — VNS Photo An Vũ

HÀ NỘI — An art exhibition entitled Hồ Gươm Mùa Xuân (Sword Lake and Spring) kicked off last week at the Hoàn Kiếm Cultural House, 2 Lê Thái Tổ Street.

The exhibition was inspired by the exceptional idea of a group of Hà Nội-based artists who wished to use art to bring out a new kind of spirit and change what people think about “the genre of Sword Lake painting”.

It was co-organised by Hoàn Kiếm management board and Việt Nam art mobilisation and cultural diplomatic board under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of External Culture and UNESCO.

The exhibition attracted 14 artists, each of whom has submitted 2 artworks. The 28 paintings show various perspectives, shades and different viewpoints on Sword Lake through 4 seasons by the artists, demonstrating their personal affections for the capital and the legendary lake, the treasure of Hà Nội.

Natural beauty: An oil painting on Spring Young Girl of Hà Nội. — VNS Photo An Vũ

Painted with oil on canvas and wood, the highlighted artworks depicting the natural beauty of Sword Lake included famous faces among Hà Nội’s artists, like Bùi Hữu Hùng’s Phong Cảnh Hồ Gươm (The Scene of Sword Lake), Nguyễn Thị Trang Ngà’s Nắng Bên Hồ (Sunray by the Lake), or Trần Tuyết Mai’s Mùa Thu Hà Nội (Autumn in Hà Nội).

Đào Thị Liên Hương, head of Việt Nam Arts and Culture Diplomatic faculty, said the exhibition was the idea of painter Lê Anh Vân, former rector of Việt Nam University of Fine Arts, “When we think about the genre of Sword Lake painting, it is typically considered the low end. However, while we are working with embassies of many countries, most of them said paintings of Sword Lake are needed. From that idea, we started to plan quality paintings of Sword Lake in order to change people’s minds on this genre.”

Painter Lê Anh Vân also shared his thoughts on the exhibition, “Sword Lake is a beautiful destination, a cultural centre and spotlight of Hà Nội in both scenery and historical legend. Therefore, Sword Lake paintings need to raise people’s awareness in keeping the beauty of the lake intact. Meanwhile, we also want to elevate the aesthetic ability of citizens and bring fine arts closer to the public,” Anh said.  

The exhibition lasts until March 4. — VNS