Veteran and young sculptors called on the city to develop more public spaces to display their art during a recent forum held during an outdoor sculpture exhibition in HCM City.

HCM City sculptors have few public spaces to display their work, particularly large pieces.

Veteran and young sculptors called on the city to develop more public spaces to display their art during a recent forum held during an outdoor sculpture exhibition in HCM City.

Nguyen Khac Quan’s sculpture

“Our artists need specific outdoor areas to display large works, but there is little support from local authorities,” said painter Uyen Huy, chairman of the city’s Fine Arts Association.

Modern urban areas like Phu My Hung and Thu Thiem should be designed with public art in mind, he said.

“Sculptors face difficulties in showcasing their works because our city has provided very few places to show quality works.”

Uyen said his association’s annual sculpture exhibitions must be held in museums and exhibition and fair centres that cannot accommodate larger works.

The city’s public places like parks have also very few places to place quality sculptures serving cultural and entertainment needs of local people, he said.

“We have had to turn down requests from many sculptors from countries such as Korea, China, Japan and France who are interested in participating in our association’s exhibitions because there is no place to display their work.”

Veteran sculptor Bui Hai Son said that the artists “want to serve the public by being displayed on the street instead of in galleries.”

Son and his colleagues, including Vinh Do, Tran Viet Hung and Hoang Tuong Minh, prefer displaying their large works in Bach Tung Diep and Tao Dan parks in District 1.

Most of their works are made of stainless steel, stone and bamboo.

“We hope our association will work more closely with cultural officials and related agencies to help sculptors show and place their works in suitable public places,” said Son, adding that he believes children can learn more about art through such outdoor displays.

Outer space

In 2007, more than 25 sculptures by veteran and young artists, including some by foreigners, were shown in the first outdoor showcase in Bach Tung Diep Park on Ly Tu Trong Street.

Titled Spirit Life of the Saigonese, the showcase brought messages about hope and dreams for peace and improvements in culture and economy.

The event encouraged people, particularly youth and children, to discover more about art and learn about culture and lifestyle.

Highlighted works included Bay Xa (Flying) and Dieu Hanh (Procession), created by young artists Vinh Do and Tran Viet Hung.

Using aluminium, stainless steel and other materials, the artists reveal their innermost feelings about life and the world. To complete the works, artists spent at least one year in a workshop.

The organiser, the Fine Arts Association, said it had received support from local authorities and sponsors. But since the event, no outdoor showcase has opened.

Source: VNS