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Article #71: Vietnamese Art: Uncovering The Passion Beneath

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It's not been long since Vietnamese art expressing their wish to be treated
established its ground in the past seriously by art lovers worldwide. Most
century. With the Ecole De Beaux Arts Vietnam artists borrow Western art
opening its doors to local students some techniques, but the content always
70 years back, began the slow diffusion of pertains to the intricacies and
Vietnamese art into the local scenario. complexities of past Vietnamese cultural
However, the cultural inception of life. The Vietnam artists too, like
Vietnamese art goes back much further. others, are moved by their surroundings
When the first lessons in line drawing, and have opted for a sensitive medium to
anatomy, and landscape painting were put their identities into canvas using
offered in the first half of the 20th colors and poetic imagery.
century, art students began to make use of Generations of Vietnam artists have
the rich cultural and religious background executed their work brilliantly. No two
to bring new flavor to their work. Village artists display similar characteristics.
huts, farmers, and daily life formed the Rather, each one has his unique style.
themes of the paintings. The tradition of Among the artists of the older generation,
lacquer and silk paintings had already Bui Xuan Phai earned a name for having
begun very early and were used in temple traded paintings for food during the
decorations. The French colonial period period of serious economic hardship. The
saw a rise in the number of students younger generation of artists aims to make
taking to painting. These upcoming artists a mark for themselves in the widening
possessed sufficient skill but lacked the intellectual and business arena. This
means to display them to perfection. generation of young artists also reflects
However, the scenario has undergone a sea to move away from the past and create an
change today with modern artists executing indelible mark on the future. Use of
their abilities combining traditional and motifs, symbols, emblems form the chief
innovative styles. weapons by which these artists try to
Art connoisseurs outside Vietnam often convey the multiple emotions and feelings.
point out some striking resemblance of For long, Vietnam artists lacked the
Vietnamese painting to European painting. opportunities to exhibit their skill in
But it would be absolutely wrong to assume other parts of the world. Their
that Vietnamese art is a mere replica of imagination, however, did not wane away.
its European counterpart. An important Rather, it gave way to fresher ideas
justification of this is the desire of leading to experimentation. Vietnamese
Vietnam artists to make them acceptable fine art has thus new dimension and is
throughout the world. The resemblance to being widely acclaimed by art connoisseurs
European painting is often deliberate, worldwide.






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