Hanoi (VNA) - The fourth Young Fine ArtsFestival, which opened in Hanoi on November 21, features works by young artistsusing a wide range of media to express their observations and concerns about life.

Nguyen Khac Chinh, Le Thi Que Chau and Ha Phuoc Duy depicteda common scene of modern life by painting people using smartphones, forgettingall of their surroundings.

Chinh portrayed a man sitting alone with a smartphone. Chau describeda meal shared by a father and daughter. While the father is waiting to talk,his daughter is busy on her smartphone. Duy captured a street corner, full ofpeople all glued to their phones.

“Sometimes we sit together with friends at a coffee shop butno one communicates directly with others,” said Chinh. “Though the world hasbecome flat and people can connect through social networks, we still feelisolated and lonely.”

Sculptor Nguyen Duy Manh from the northern province of VinhPhuc presented a sculpture entitled Dem (Night) made from fabric.

Manh said he found inspiration to create the work whileteaching in a mountainous region.

“I have taught there for nearly 10 years and sometimes Ifelt homesick and lonely,” said Manh. “The man in my work struggles to find anescape, as a tree raises up its branches to find the sunlight.”

The Young Fine Arts Festival 2017 aims to encourage theyoung generation’s creativity and development while contributing to anexpansion of Vietnam’s contemporary fine arts scene, said Vi Kien Thanh, headof the Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Department under the cultureministry.

“Through the exhibition, we easily understand the energy ofyoung artists and their unique ways of expressing their concerns.”

Thanh said the event aimed to reinforce the culturalauthority’s support for young artists, who will create cultural pieces fortoday and tomorrow, contributing to a strong national cultural identity.

Thanh is head of the art council, together with painter DaoQuoc Huy, sculptor Le Lang Luong, graphic artist Vu Bach Lien, art curator NguyenNhu Huy and installation artist Ly Hoang Ly.

After five months, the organising board received 379 entriesfrom artists aged 18-35 nationwide. The art council selected 95 artworkscreated by 80 artists to display at the exhibition. The entries are dividedinto six categories including paintings, graphics, sculptures, installationart, video art and body art.

Lien remarked that the number of video art, installation artand body art works is small compared with other genres. She suggested thatyoung artists should experience new types of art and new materials.

Launched in 2007, the triennial festival helps discover andencourage young artists to integrate with global contemporary art. It is alsoan opportunity for society and the national departments of culture to obtain abetter understanding of Vietnam’s contemporary fine arts scene; in turn, thiswill lead to more support for the country’s arts in this era of globalisation.

The exhibition will run until December 5.-VNA