HÀ NỘI — A painting exhibition featuring more than 40 art works by 22 artists from 11 Asian countries is now open in downtown Hà Nội.

Part of the paintings were created during a five-day camp in the northern province of Ninh Bình, which is an annual exchange event hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The rest are old paintings that the artists donated to the event. The artists are from Asian countries including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and the Philippines.

“In recent years, Vietnamese artists have been more and more active in exchanging with international colleagues,” said Vi Kiến Thành, director of the ministry’s Department for Exhibition, Fine Arts and Photography. “They have joined more events overseas as well as hosted more camps in Việt Nam to invite foreign artists.”

Local touch: A painting by artist Supparkorn Disatapundhu from Thailand with the contributions of locals in Ninh Bình Province.

“We chose Ninh Bình as the host location because of the ancient imperial citadel, various beautiful landscapes and it is convenient to travel from Hà Nội,” said culture deputy minister Vương Duy Biên. “The camp aims to not only enhance the understanding and friendship among artists but also promote Việt Nam’s tourism potential.”

Vietnamese painter Nguyễn Nghĩa Phương, who has joined various other international camps overseas, praised the event.

“Each time joining international artists I have different feelings and experiences,” he said. “Yet this is the first time I have visited so many relic sites and landscapes in Ninh Bình. This camp should be organised every year to promote Việt Nam’s image and role of Vietnamese artists in Asia and in the world.”

Joining the camp for second time, artists Chua Cheng Koon and Chow Chin Chuan said Việt Nam inspires them.

International friends: Artists Chua Cheng Koon (left) and Chow Chin Chuan from Malaysia pose for a photo by Koon’s painting on his Ninh Bình impression.

“Last time we went to Sa Pa, which is very cool with lots of colours of different ethnic groups,” Koon told Việt Nam News. “But Ninh Bình this time is quite different. At the camp, we share techniques and views on the same things. Everybody may come up with different topics on the same scene. Some may focus on faces, some on landscapes.”

Indian artist Ruchika Wason Singh is interested in Vietnamese dó (poonah) paper material.

She did a two-month research project in Việt Nam last year on the material.

“Dó paper is a new challenge to me,” she said. “With dó, I already have one colour as the paper is not totally white. The material works well with Chinese ink, which I always use.

“Dó’s surface is not smooth. It’s a little rough, so a line I draw out is different than what I want. I have to learn how to draw without changing dó. In that way, I learn a new technique for life.”

As this camp was too short, Singh could not finish her painting on dó paper. She has many paintings on the material back home and intends to open an exhibition featuring her paintings on dó paper soon in India.

In it together: A painting drawn by 11 artists at the camp.

Supparkorn Disatapundhu from Thailand thought of a way to capture local community spirit in his paintings.

He encouraged some children and adults in Ninh Bình to draw in one of his paintings.

“The painting is touching to see as it bears the relationship between Thailand and Việt Nam,” Thai Embassy’s Counsellor Chotikorn Limratana told Việt Nam News.

“The camp is a good effort by the Vietnamese culture ministry as it connects people in Asian countries at people-to-people level.”

The exhibition will run at Exhibition House 29 Hàng Bài Street, Hà Nội until September 3. — VNS