The 115-page book, entitled “9 Bao vat quoc gia o Bao tang My thuat Viet Nam” (9 National Treasures in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum) (Photo courtesy of the museum) The 115-page book, entitled “9 Bao vat quoc gia o Bao tang My thuat Viet Nam” (9National Treasures in the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum) and presented in bothEnglish and Vietnamese, introduces the creators and the nine nationaltreasures, including their features and artistic values.
The book will help readers learn about Vietnamese fine arts and theVietnam Fine Arts Museum collection in particular.
Among them are five artefacts that became national treasures in 2013,including the statue of Quan Am(Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara) originating from the Hoi Ha Pagoda in Vinh Phuc province, the Statue of Queen Trinh Thi Ngoc Truc originating from Mat Pagoda in Thanh Hóa province, oil painting Em Thuy (Little Sister Thuy) by artist Tran Van Can (1910-1994), the oil painting Hai Thieu Nu vaf Em Be (Two Girls and a Child) by painter To Ngoc Van (1906 - 1954), and a lacquer painting Ket Nap Dang o Dien Bien Phu (PartyAdmission Ceremony in Dien Bien Phu) bypainter Nguyen Sang (1923-1988).
Four artefacts recognised as national treasures in 2017 are a pair ofdoors carved with dragon motifs of Keo Pagoda in Thai Binh province, lacquer painting Bac Ho o Chien Khu Viet Bac (Uncle Ho in the VietBac War Zone) by painter DuongBich Lien (1924-1988), the standing screen by painter Nguyen Gia Tri (1908 -1993) and the lacquer painting Saint Giong by artist Nguyen Tu Nghiem (1918-2016).
One of the national treasures featured in the book, the artwork PartyAdmission Ceremony in Dien Bien Phu Battlefield,was completed by Nguyen Sang in1963, nine years after the Dien Bien Phu Victory.This year marks 60 years since the painter created the lacquer painting and tenyears since it was recognised as a national treasure of Vietnam.
The lacquer painting depicts the Party admission ceremony, which tookplace on the Dien Bien Battlefield,an important event for each soldier.
According to the book's introduction, Sang spent days living with the soldiers duringthe anti-French resistance war. He became familiar with their figures, mannerand equipment. However, he carefully made many sketches to study the soldier'sphysique, weapons, and personal belongings before painting them.
Party Admission Ceremony in DienBien Phu Battlefield has a tight composition, strong shapes, and boldcolours. The painting does not reveal too many techniques, but the boldcontrast and ingenious colour transition have showcased a richness of coloursand the artistic style of the leading artist of Vietnamese fine arts. It is anepic representation of the Vietnamese revolutionary spirit.
The oldest artefact introduced in the 9 National Treasures in VietnamFine Arts Museum is the lacquered wood statue of the BodhisattvaAvalokisteshvara, crafted in the 16th century.
It is divided into three parts: the upper part is the 42-armAvalokiteshvara sitting on a lotus pedestal; the middle part is a monsterholding the lotus pedestal, a dragon head and two attendants Kim Dong, Ngoc Nu; thelower part is a hexagonal pedestal in which is intricately carved with typicalmotifs.
The statue, 314 x 215 x 155cm and about six tonnes in weight, is one ofthe most massive and sophisticated ancient sculptures in Vietnam. It is also assessed as an original and uniqueartefact bearing unique artistic values, typical of Vietnamese Buddhist art.
The book is now available at the museum's shop, La art, located at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi./.
VNA
