Hanoi (VNA)  – As many as 80 paintings andsculptures by People’s Artist Vuong Duy Bien are being displayed at his latestsolo exhibition at the art space in Bot Tep hamlet, Hien Ninh commune, Hanoi’s outlyingdistrict of Soc Son.  

Opened to the public since November 17, the exhibition displays artworks madeby lacquer, oil on canvas and sculpture. Some of the most compellinginclude Keo Cua Lua Xe (Chanting whilesawing wood), ChumKinh Nghiem (Jar ofExperience), ManNguyen (Satisfaction), Ai Bao Toi Khong Lam Duoc (Who told you I cannot do it?).

At apress conference held on November 5 in Hanoi, Bien said although he was busywith administrative work as Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports andTourism, he has never neglected his passion for fine arts.

“Iusually paint on my way to work, sometimes even in meetings. When an idea popsup in my head, I take a note and work on it on weekend,” he said.

Most of his sculptures depict young boys and girls. “Children aremy subjects of interest. They reflect my wish to be as innocent, pure andspontaneous as they are. On the other side, through them I can satirise thevanity of life in the adult world today,” said Bien.

The artwork The Sinking Chair is a message on theorigin of vanity and the nonsense of ambition and fame. Bien said thesculpture Unlock, with a load of locks arranged in the form ofa buffalo flock, is intended to communicate, “If you unlock these objects, youwill find freedom and inner peace like those animals”.

In art, Bien ponders the countryside and rural life. Most of hispaintings focus on farmers and bucolic scenery. Musician Nguyen Trong Tao, avisitor to Bien’s art space, said Bien’s paintings are never without the imageof farmers. “The sense for rural life is strong in Bien’s art. His art spacehelps him to find more creation and dedication,” Tao said.

Bien’s private art space isoffers visitors a dose of fresh air. Its grand view spreads to Noi Bai NationalAirport. It is close to Thanh Chuong Viet Palace, with one of Vietnam’s top privateart collections, the Thanh Giong Monument and many more cultural destinationsin the area.

Bien was born to a family that has been makingart for generations. Since the 90’s, when he was a new face in thedomestic sculpture scene, he became known as the only sculptor whose work wasselected for the final round of the Great King of Hung Dao monument designcontest in the city of Nam Dinh.

He has also had manysolo silk painting exhibitions held in the capital and other countries likePoland, Japan, France, Germany and mainland China, gaining much appreciationfrom art experts and admirers.

His exhibition is openfree for public. -VNA