Twenty eight paintings by 14 Indian artists are currently on display at an exhibition called “Kalpana – Contemporary Indian Paintings” which opened at the Vietnam Culture and Arts Exhibition in Hanoi on April 24.


The exhibition, jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the India Embassy, marks Vietnam-India Friendship Year in 2012 and the 40 th anniversary of Vietnamese, Indian diplomatic ties.


With well known painters such as Jamini Ray, Amrita Shergil and Maqbool Fida Husain, the exhibition brings Vietnamese art enthusiasts a blend of traditional and modern art.


Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai, said that the Vietnamese, Indian relationship was first established by President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.


He went on to say that the event mirrors the close ties between the two countries, adding that it also offers an opportunity for artists from both nations to get together and appreciate each others work.


Ambassador Ranjit Rae said that apart from the exhibition, his country plans to hold a broad range of cultural and educational events to celebrate the major milestones in Vietnam-India relations.


A ship from the Indian Navy carrying an Indian folk art troupe will dock in Hai Phong and a conference on the Cham culture, which contains certain Indian elements, will be held in the central coastal city of Da Nang.-VNA