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This event marks a milestone not only as the first exhibition in Vietnam organized by an international auction house and art patron, but also as one of the largest Indochinese art exhibitions held here.
For the first time, Saigonese people have the opportunity to admire works previously held in famous private collections, brought back to Vietnam, by renowned painters Le Thi Luu, Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, and Vu Cao Dam – the four masters of Indochina famous on the international market. The paintings, authorized for public viewing by their collectors, originate from the families of these famous artists and their collectors.
"Two Young Girls" - Vu Cao Dam
Graceful Vietnamese girls, gentle mothers caressing their children, rural landscapes, or breathtakingly beautiful still lifes... all recreate the creative world of renowned painters whose works are worth millions of dollars.
With a mission to foster cultural dialogue between artists and local communities, Sotheby's Modern Art expert team selected Ace Lê, an independent art researcher, to co-curate this exhibition as a platform to promote Vietnamese art and culture through the lens of a group of talented artists.
Ace Lê stated: "This event is a significant milestone for the Vietnamese art community in many respects. I am honored to be entrusted by Sotheby's, a market leader. They have demonstrated their passion and respect for our local artistic and cultural heritage by deciding to collaborate with local experts on this important project."
The works in the exhibition are a snapshot illustrating the period of artistic creation abroad by the four artists, expressing a constant yearning for their homeland through familiar themes stemming from each artist's memories and nostalgia – flowers and landscapes, family and customs, culture and architecture, values and ideas – interwoven and blended with fresh perspectives gained from their time abroad in France.
Nathan Drahi, Managing Director of Sotheby's Asia, emphasized: "We are proud to be holding this exhibition for the first time in this vibrant city, where we hope to help reconnect the public with its rich cultural heritage through these artistic masterpieces."
Jasmine Prasetio, Managing Director of Sotheby's Southeast Asia, shared: "Sotheby's has contributed to building the Southeast Asian art market for over two decades, and we are proud to have introduced many masterpieces from this region to the world."
Paintings by Vu Cao Dam
We recognize Vietnam's role as an important cradle of arts and culture, accompanied by a rapidly growing community of collectors with a passion for art and an unceasing drive to learn.
Sotheby's is pleased to share its expertise, experience, and information in the most transparent way possible with the collecting community – both seasoned and aspiring – and this non-commercial exhibition is a testament to its commitment to that educational endeavor.
As one of the fastest-growing markets in the region, Vietnamese art is attracting particular attention from art enthusiasts worldwide. After breaking the latest price record for Le Pho at the recent spring auction in Hong Kong, Sotheby's now holds all three records for the highest prices ever paid for Vietnamese paintings.
The exhibition will take place from July 11-14 at the Park Hyatt Saigon hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Curator Ace Lê selected 50 paintings from over 200 pieces from private collectors.
Additional information
Curator Ace Lê is an independent art researcher and curator. He is the founding director of the Lân Tinh Foundation and the Editor-in-Chief of Art Republik Vietnam magazine. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Vietnam Art Data Archive (ViAA), and is a member of the Arts Australia Council's 2022 International Arts Leadership Programme.
He graduated with a Master's degree in Museum Studies and Censorship Practice, and a Master's degree in Journalism and Communication from Nanyang Technological University, and also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the National University of Singapore.
