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Sofia Suarez

I see a lot of Vietnamese paintings on the market, but there's  not much background information  available. Could  you shed some light?

WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS

During the first quarter of the last century, Vietnamese painting was detached from the emerging European art movements,  says Sotheby's deputy director of Southeast Asian paintings, Mok Kim Chuan.  'It was bound faithfully to traditional art forms and techniques inherited from China, transmitted through the art of calligraphy or wood printing.'

The first turning point came when Frenchman Victor Tardieu founded the Ecole Superieure  de Beaux arts de l'Indochine in 1925, laying the foundations of Vietnamese modern art. 'The college promoted western concepts of style such as fauvism, cubism and expressionism. Silk painting was supported and a number of students explored this technique, including Nguyen Phan Chan and Le Van De.'

The Paris-based generation, including Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam, Mai Trung Thu and Le Thi Luu, also employed western forms  of still life and portraiture.  'Their works today epitomise the absolute osmosis and duality of the east and the west,' Mok says.

ART OF WAR

The next major milestone was 1945. Not only did the Ecole close, but the communist revolution divided the country into North and South and sparked years of war that continued until 1975. 'The revolution changed the mindsets of artists who had chosen to remain in Vietnam. These artists developed highly personal approaches to painting.' Influential names include To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can, Nguyen Phan Chanh and Nguyen Gia Tri.

'The artists from the North [under the influence of the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China] turned in the direction of the social realist stream, where it was intended to serve the revolution, while  artists from the South embraced western trends, influenced by the presence of the Americans,' says Mok. However,  the main concern for most artists was how to survive the war.

'It was only in 1985, 10 years after the reunification of the country, that Vietnamese modern art was revitalised and diffused on the international scene.'

The first wave of contemporary artists focused mainly on Vietnam's people and agricultural society. Then artists such as  Hong Viet Dung began to explore simplicity in form and colour.

'They express the emotions of  subjects through the use of colour and composition. However, the greatest change in contemporary Vietnamese art lies in the diversity of style. Whether they're working on installations, oil paintings or lacquer, the artists turn to their unique, individual visions and thus distinguish themselves from others.'

Important contemporary artists  include Nguyen Trung,  Le Vuong, Ho Huu Thu and Le Thiet Cuong.

TIPS FOR NEW COLLECTORS

The Vietnamese painting market has grown since the early  1990s, says Mok. From 1997,  it shifted from Paris to Singapore, after Sotheby's and Christie's started including Vietnamese paintings  in their bi-annual (April and October) Southeast Asian  sales.

'Since 1997, prices have continuously increased and  over the past few years we've witnessed a rising number of  records for Vietnamese artists such as Nguyen Phan Chanh,  Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam and Bui Xuan Phai in Sotheby's Singapore's sale room.'

Prices vary according to artist, medium, provenance and the work.  'Generally, silk pieces are in the higher price bracket, but it's  difficult to generalise,' Mok says. 'For example, an oil on silk Le Pho can fetch S$34,800 [$160,000].  On the other hand, we've sold one of his ink and gouache on silk pieces for S$108,000  and an even rarer one for S$283,200.'

Mok recommends collecting paintings by  renowned artists  who 'have exhibited their  works in reputable galleries  and who have been featured in international auction houses'. Above all,  he says, the work should speak to you.

RESOURCES:

Art of Vietnam by Jean-Francois Hubert and Catherine Noppe ($312; www.paddyfield.com)

Please send questions

about collectables to sofiasuarez@yahoo.com



Vietnam scene