Italian artist Richard di San Marzano and British paining collector Dominic Scriven have established a self-portrait paining contest for Vietnamese artists.

The first-ever Dogma Prize in Self Portraiture will be awarded to Vietnamese painters aged 18 and above, with each allowed to send in one entry only.

The prize aims to encourage and foster self- portraiture among emerging and established Vietnamese artists, according to the organizers.

The jury panel will announce the winner of the competition on July 12.

The winner will bring home a cash prize of VND100 million (US$4,830), and three recognition prizes worth VND10 million each will be granted to three other artists.

In addition, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts will also host an exhibition for the most outstanding paintings of the competition between July 12 and July 30.

The organizers also planned to make the Dogma competition a biennial event in Vietnam.

Dominic Scriven, the co-founder of the Dogma prize, has a collection of around 80 self-portrait paintings of Vietnamese artists.

For more information, visit the website www.dogmacollection.com.