Ten Vietnamese women are among 84 artists from 24 countries participating in an international female art exhibition centred on the self.

Her Presence in Colours IX, presented by the International Women Artists Council (INWAC), will remain open in Portland State University 's Littman Gallery until the end of this month.

Many international artists have interpreted the exhibition's topic, "art as a reflection of self", very literally in their works, organisers said.

Most of the art works are either abstract or realistic oil paintings, with each displaying a distinct cultural style that enables viewers to tell which country they are from, they added.

INWAC was formed in China in 1993 when Yuen Chee Ling organised seven other Chinese female artists for an exhibition and has since grown to a multinational organisation with members from Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere.

Her Presence in Colours, held every two years, has thus far been hosted by many Southeast Asian countries as well as the UK and Australia .

This year's event includes an artists' forum, a walk through the galleries of Pearl District, sketching at the Lan Su Chinese Garden and small "sister group" meetings to foster friendships.

The Vietnamese artists featured in the latest exhibition are Cao Thi Duoc, Dang Thi Duong, Nguyen Thuy Huong, Le Thi Kim, Cong Tang Ton Nu Ai Lan, Tran Thuy Linh, Nguyen Thi Tam, Huynh Phuong Thi Dai Trang, Ly Chanh Van, and Nguyen Thi Quang Vinh./.