VietNamNet Bridge - Artist Huynh Van Muoi is head of HCM City’s Fine Arts Association and the Applied Arts Department at HCM City University of Fine Arts. He speaks about his career and future aspirations.

When did you start your career as an artist and lecturer at the school?

I began studying fine art in 1964 and graduated from Sai Gon Fine Arts College in 1974. I was fortunate to be trained by such talented artists as Nguyen Sien, Tran Kim Hung, Nguyen Van Long and others. Right after graduating, I began lecturing at the school and worked for an advertising company in Sai Gon at the same time. When the war ended I continued teaching at the school, which was renamed HCM City Fine Arts College.

You have more than 40 years experience studying and teaching at the same school. What are some of your memories?

The best memory of my teaching life is from 1974. It was a day in October when I was the youngest lecturer at the school. I did not dare sit with senior lecturers in the teachers’ room at break time. I went to the student club at a nearby school to drink a cup of water.

When I returned to my class, I was five minutes late and found my register notebook on my desk: The vice principal Le Minh Ngu had written: “The professor was five minutes late”. In the past every university lecturer was called ‘professor’. My heart beat and I felt ashamed and admired his strict manner. It was the first lesson of my teaching career and also a good memory.

Time is so short. Two years from now, it will be time for me to retire. There are strange emotions inside me after almost half a century of studying and teaching at the school. Time, history and love have passed, leaving deep impressions.

Now you are head of the school’s Applied Art Department, which was established a few years ago. Do you feel it is strange that HCM City is often called the kingdom of applied art and advertising in Viet Nam?

Applied art is now a huge field, with great potential directly linked to the country’s economic development. But it is often treated lightly because we have paid more attention to visual arts rather than applied art.

In fact, painting, applied art and fine art now hold the same position. Although only in existence for three years, the school’s applied art department has trained many talented artists that can satisfy current demand.

Many students from the department have been awarded national, regional and international prizes for applied art. Ngo Thai Uyen, Le Tuan Kiet, Mai Thu Ngan, for example.

As chairman of the HCM City Fine Arts Association, could you comment on the status of visual arts in HCM City?

Many artists from the HCM City Fine Arts Association other non-members are creating art. The association has more than 630 members specialising in fine arts, including painting and sculpture. They work at home or in their studios and also at annual camps hosted by the association.

In general, fine arts and applied arts, such as interior design and fashion design, are growing in popularity. Most of the applied artists, such as graphic designers and industrial designers, are not members of our association. There are around 1,000 applied artists in the city. I think a separate association for these artists to exchange experiences should be established.

What are your views about contemporary art, which is becoming more popular in the country?

Most Vietnamese have no knowledge of contemporary art. Some young people hope to study it and many young artists work in this style. There are many new pieces, but they are not shown in public.

Some young artists have experimented with the new art forms, such as performance art, body art and installation. However, these new trends aren’t being taught in schools.

The media has played a role in introducing new work to the public, but there are few books or materials about art in Viet Nam. Only two magazines about visual arts are available in the country. If people don’t have enough materials to read, then how can they be interested? We have also too long ignored the field of art criticism in the Vietnamese-language media.

What should be done to help the city’s art community?

I think all art trends, including contemporary art, from other countries should be taught in schools. Once the public is educated about, the city’s art world will be able to develop. The public and the Government should have a more open attitude toward contemporary art and other trends.

Besides developing a better infrastructure for the arts, education reform in art schools should also be carried out to correspond with international art trends.

(Source: VNS)