Oil-on canvas lotus painting measuring 70cm by 90cm by Đỗ Khải.

HÀ NỘI — An online auction will be co-held on March 29 by Indochineart Gallery and An Ninh Thủ Đô (Capital Security) newspaper to raise funds for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Some 60 artworks will go under the hammer, including paintings and sculptures by veterans Phan Cẩm Thượng and Lý Trực Sơn and established Đỗ Đức Khải and Nguyễn Nghĩa Dậu.

"When we announced a charity auction, we received immediate support from the artists," said curator Vũ Huy Thông. "The artists did not hesitate to join the nation fight against the pandemic."

With the participation of the artists and the stories behind the artworks, the auction will attract numerous buyers, according to Thông. 

Doãn Hoàng Kiên sent to the auction a portrait of late Trần Lưu Hậu, who died this month. He painted his teacher right after his death.

"Kiên painted his teacher full of emotion. The painting carries memories and feelings of a student for his teacher," Thông said. 

A work Nguyễn Lộc depicts a team of health workers acting as a shield for society.

Đỗ Khải and Nguyễn Nghĩa Dậu have donated paintings of lotuses for the auction. 

Acrylic-on silk painting measuring 66cm by 126cm by Nguyễn Nghĩa Dậu.

Khải's painting features the contrast between new sprouting leaves and buds and older leaves, inspiring people to live in difficult times. 

The painting's starting price is VNĐ5 million (more than US$200). 

"I purposely gave a low price for buyers," said Khải. "The auction should be carried out as soon as possible to support health workers."

Through his paintings, Dậu wants people to spend time meditating during the pandemic.

The auction will be a good opportunity for collectors to buy artworks by famous artists at reasonable prices, said Thông.  "The artists are willing to present their works for auction with much lower prices than their real values."

The auction will begin at 9am on March 29 at https://www.facebook.com/Indochineart-153288118659489/. 

There will be five auctions with 48 consecutive hours for each. 

Each auction will have 12 artworks. The proceeds will go to the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases and some other centres.