Vietnamese art needs breakthrough

Vietnamese art needs to find a way of developing a market

Old art thinking and doing in practice

In 1986 when Vietnam entered the renovation period, the country had a team of artists who were enthusiastic to explore, create and pioneer new things and this promoted the domestic art market, with a variety of recognized artists and well-received works. Along with the strong development of information technology and cultural exchanges, many art schools opened in Vietnam and received a warm reception from young artists.

However, Vietnamese art has also been criticized for old ways of thinking and practice and has failed to reflect reality. “A handful of good-quality art works are able to be found in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hue, and I think this reflects the real situation of Vietnamese art today, that the art market has failed to see a major change,” said Le Van Suu, Rector of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts at the 2015 Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition held in Hanoi.

Cultural exchanges and integration have helped domestic artists access different artistic mediums globally, but it seems that they have failed to create a breakthrough in terms of quality as well as make drastic changes in creation, which explains why Vietnam has struggled to produce arts of particular value.

According to Vu Dinh Tuan, lecturer from the Graphic Design Faculty at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, artists in pre-renovation and renovation periods may have had profound artistic theory but lacked the ability to apply this in reality, which turned them into perfectionists who were unable to create something new, attractive and alternative. Meanwhile, young dynamic artists of the post-renovation period have shown a great desire to explore and create new things but vague and faddish. Some rushed to find fame from superficially beautiful works.

A market in search

Vietnamese art has seen changes in the context of increasing international integration, which have failed to help domestic artists change neither their theories nor practice.

According to Director of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition Vi Kien Thanh, domestic creative and talented artists are facing two major issues, one is weak and inadequate support and another is the poor domestic market.

Vietnam has failed to develop an art market, which leaves many domestic artists facing difficulties in selling their works and earning enough to make a living. While the international art market remains very exciting, with some regional countries becoming destinations for art collectors and investors, Vietnam’s art market is considered largely underdeveloped, said Vi Kien Thanh.

What is important for now is to revive the domestic art market in a sustainable manner, which is considered as key in Vietnam’s art development. Moreover, the domestic art market should be linked with international counterparts to take advantages of the global integration, said Vi Kien Thanh.

Hoa Quynh