This event marks not only the first exhibition in Vietnam organized by an international auction house and art patron, but also one of the largest exhibitions of Indochina paintings here.
For the first time, Saigon people were able to admire works originally from famous private collections brought to Vietnam by the famous painters Le Thi Luu, Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu and Vu Cao Dam - the four famous Indochina masters on the international market. The paintings were allowed by collectors to be published for public viewing, originating from famous painters' families and collectors.
"Two girls" - Vu Cao Dam
Charming Vietnamese girls, gentle mothers cuddling their children, village landscapes or still lifes so beautiful they sparkle... all recreate the creative world of famous painters whose paintings are worth millions of dollars.
With the mission of promoting cultural dialogue between artists and local communities, Sotheby's Modern Art team selected Ace Le, 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 Le said: "This event is a significant milestone for the Vietnamese art community in many aspects. I am honored to be entrusted by Sotheby's, a market leader. They have demonstrated their passion and respect for our local cultural and artistic heritage by deciding to cooperate with local experts to carry out this important project."
The series of works in the exhibition is a cross-section illustrating the four artists' creative period abroad, expressing their constant homesickness through familiar themes originating from each person's memories and nostalgia - flowers and landscapes, family and customs, culture and architecture, values and ideas - interwoven and blended with new approaches acquired from their time abroad in France.
“We are proud to host the 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,” said Nathan Drahi, Managing Director of Sotheby’s Asia.
Ms. Jasmine Prasetio, Managing Director of Sotheby's Southeast Asia, shared: "Sotheby's has contributed to building the Southeast Asian art market for more than two decades, and we are proud to have introduced many masterpieces from this region to the world.
Painting by Vu Cao Dam
We recognize Vietnam's role as an important cradle of art and culture, accompanied by a thriving community of collectors, with a passion for art and a drive to learn.
Sotheby's is proud to share its expertise, experience and information in the most transparent way to the collector community – both veteran and potential – and this non-commercial exhibition is a testament to its commitment to that educational journey."
As one of the fastest growing markets in the region, Vietnamese art is attracting particular attention from global connoisseurs. 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 price for Vietnamese paintings.
The exhibition takes place from July 11-14 at Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.
Curator Ace Le, who selected 50 paintings from over 200 from private collectors
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Curator Ace Le is an independent art researcher and curator. He is the founding Director of Lan Tinh Foundation and Editor-in-Chief of Art Republik Vietnam. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Vietnam Art Archive (ViAA), and is a member of the Australia Council for the Arts’ 2022 International Arts Leadership Program.
He holds a Master's degree in Museum Studies and Curatorial Practice, and a Master's degree in Journalism and Communication from Nanyang Technological University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the National University of Singapore.
