Male model in Mr International; Ethnic arts, literature awards; Wood-block paintings on display

Vietnamese model Vinh Thuy. - File Photo

Hair designer Tan The Gioi and image director Long Kan will accompany Thuy to Taiwan to make sure he looks his best at all times.

Thuy is sponsored by the Sea Collection clothing label, while designer Do Manh Cuong has been chosen to design Thuy’s competition costumes. His traditional costume was designed by Thinh Tri, a teacher at HCM City’s Fine Arts College. The costume reflects both establishing and protecting periods of the country though decorative patterns.

This year the competition has attracted representatives from 50 countries and territories. The final round will take place next Saturday.

Vietnamese model Ngo Tien Doan won the Mr International 2008 title and has completed his one-year mission in Singapore.

Ethnic arts, literature awards

Eleven literary works on ethnic groups have been awarded the Prize of the Year 2009 by the Literature and Arts Association of Viet Nam’s Ethnic Minorities.

Three prizes in the poetry category went to two Kinh and one Muong ethnic authors while eight prizes for prose went to authors from the Kinh, Tay and Mong ethnic groups.

The prize has been granted annually since 1997 by the association.

Wood-block paintings on display

Over 40 black and white paintings by Vietnamese painter Hoang Minh Phuc are on show for the first time in Paris, France.

The paintings, created using a woodblock print on do (poonah), paper feature the everyday lives of Vietnamese people as perceived by the artist.

The event is an opportunity for French people and overseas Vietnamese in the country to view the traditional printing method which is rapidly dying out.

The exhibition will run until January 4 next year, and then move to Germany.

Phuc, who works as a lecturer for Ha Noi the College of Industrial Fine Arts, is one of only a few artists still practising the technique in Viet Nam. She was awarded the “Golden Hands” prize for young painters in 2001.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News