A painting on “do” (poonah) paper in the Resistance series by George Burchett
Hanoi (VNA) – Artworks inspired by conflicting fragments of lives,
people and turmoil during wartime in Vietnam are on display at an exhibition of
paintings and sculptures in Malaysia.
Entitled Fractured, the exhibition explores the fragility of beauty
inspired by conflict in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Monaco-based artist Blake Ward showcases sculptures in which he aims to draw
attention to the suffering of landmine victims in Vietnam.
He has exhibited across the world including Europe, Southeast Asia, Canada, the
US and Hong Kong, and has galleries in the US, Canada and Italy.
“My language is the figure and I feel the need to comment on the human
condition, sometimes distorted by demons, and other times enchanted by all that
are pure within us,” he said.
Painter George Burchett, who was born in Hanoi, introduces The Resistence series
depicting the narratives of heroic resistance. He was influenced strongly by
his father, Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett, who worked as a war
correspondent in Vietnam.
The exhibition also displays paintings by soldier-artist Pham Van Luc,
young talent Phan Dinh Khanh and veteran painter Phan Ke An.
The exhibition will run until September 3 at the end of the George Town
Festival, Penang, Malaysia.
It’s a part of the George Town Festival, an annual celebration of arts,
culture, heritage, and community.
Inaugurated in 2010 in honour of George Town’s designation as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, the festival transforms the city into a global stage, showcasing
world-class performances, installations and collaborations from international
and local artists.
“The festival seeks to create new and vibrant connections between the
traditional and the contemporary, the past and the future,” said festival
director Joe Sidek.
With more than 100 showcases, the month-long programmes vary from art, design,
photography, film, workshops, music, dance to drama as well as site-specific
installations. The festival draws thousands of visitors each year.-VNA