VietNamNet Bridge – The Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have announced the top ten fine arts and photographic events of 2013.

At the press conference.

The classification, in its second year, aims to acknowledge and honour the outstanding fine arts and photographic events of the past year. The list includes five fine arts events and five photographic events.

1. The 5th National Sculpture Exhibition (2003-2013), celebrating a decade of developments in Vietnamese sculpture, opened on December 11 at the Hanoi Museum and runs to January 15, 2014.

The exhibition features 286 outstanding sculptures by 230 artists from across the country, marking a profound shift in artistic conception, forms of expression and techniques used to create this type of artwork. The exhibits were selected from 675 pieces submitted to the organising board by 352 artists.

2. A Vietnamese lacquer painting exhibition displayed in Italy from July 9 to August 2, as part of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties (1973-2013).

The exhibition offered an opportunity for Italian art-lovers and international friends to know more about the development of Vietnam’s lacquer arts.

3. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed Decree No. 113/2013/ND-CP on art activities on October 2.

The decree is the highest legal document on art activities, creating a legal framework to develop the art industry.

4. A composition camp and exhibition on Vietnam’s border, sea and islands was held to mark the 38th anniversary of South Vietnam Liberation and National Reunification.

The event, attracting the participation of young painters from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Ca Mau Povince, asserted Vietnam’s territorial integrity and raised public awareness of the strategic role of the border, sea and islands.

5. A ceremony was held to mark the 100th anniversary of the Fine-Arts School in Gia Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City Fine Art University.

A series of well-known painters and sculptors based in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern region were educated at the school.

6. An exhibition themed ‘Celebrating 40 years of the date of signing the Paris Agreement on Vietnam” was held in Hanoi from January 23-28.

The exhibition displayed 140 photos, 21 citations, 23 exhibits, three documents and 8 books, including some valuable artifacts on display for the first time in the last 40 years.

7. The Seventh International Photo Contest, which received 15,360 entries from 1,430 artists representing 51 countries and territories across the world, was held by the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists’ (VAPA).

An awards ceremony was held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi to honour 48 outstanding images.

8. A photo exhibition and two photo books by People’s Artist Nguyen A, featuring 365 stories on people with disabilities, were presented.

People’s Artist Nguyen A, who has dedicated 10 years to taking photos of people with disabilities, donated part of the books’ revenue to the Disabled Kids Fund and the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund.

9. A ceremony was held by the Vietnamese Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) to mark the 60th anniversary since President Ho Chi Minh paved the way for the development of the Vietnamese photography industry in March 1953.

On this occasion, a number of prominent photographers were awarded commemorative medals in honour of their invaluable contributions to the development of Vietnam’s photography industry.

10. A series of artistic photo exhibitions on the country’s sovereignty over its sea and islands was held across the country.

Its purpose was to demonstrate the strategic role of Vietnam’s sea and islands in national construction and defence to the city’s residents, consolidating their patriotism and raising their awareness of the country’s sovereignty over its sea.

Source: Nhan Dan