| Vietnam is a culturally diversified nation with 54 ethnic | | | | hermitages, the home and places of retreat. |
| groups with multiple customs and traditions. Although | | | | Contemporary artists may use traditional or |
| Vietnamese culture was strongly influenced by | | | | contemporary forms separately or in combination e.g. |
| traditional Chinese civilization, the struggle for political | | | | film, sculpture or in painting used together in an |
| independence from China developed a strong sense | | | | installation piece. While there may be a deeply felt |
| of national identity in the Vietnamese people. Nearly | | | | spiritual context to the work, it would not necessarily |
| 100 years of French rule introduced important | | | | be intended to go in a monastery, center or temple |
| European elements into the culture of the country, | | | | and would not have to be made according to |
| but the Vietnamese still attach great importance to | | | | econometric recommendations. |
| the family and continue to observe rites honoring | | | | Many contemporary artists also use themes such as |
| their ancestors, indicating the persistence of tradition. | | | | impermanence, delusion; interdependence, compassion |
| The first flourishing of Vietnamese art occurred with | | | | commonly studied in Buddha dharma, and may feel a |
| the emergence of the Dongson culture on the coast | | | | link with Buddhist ideas without necessarily calling |
| of Annam and Tonkin. The inspiration for the | | | | themselves Buddhists. Contemporary art also assists |
| magnificent bronzes produced by the artists of | | | | in viewing the Vietnam War and war experience in |
| Dongson originated from China: the decorative motifs | | | | general through art. It helps to forge a link between |
| have clear affinities with earlier Chinese bronzes. At | | | | the common man, soldier, art and history. |
| the same time, the exceptional skill of production and | | | | Contemporary Vietnamese art focuses on analyzing |
| decoration argues that these pieces represent among | | | | how art relates to historical themes and issues, |
| the first and finest of Southeast Asian works of art. | | | | interpreting and understanding art as a tool of |
| The period during which the central Vietnamese | | | | communication, synthesizing and assimilating |
| kingdom, centered on the Annamite coast was under | | | | information from different disciplines into |
| the Champa rulers saw the 'golden' period of the | | | | demonstrated comprehension, and further developing |
| Vietnamese art and architecture. Valuable works of | | | | abstract and critical thinking that can be applied |
| Vietnamese Art comprise of the historic and | | | | throughout the learning process. |
| treasured form of art executed on extravagant, fine | | | | Despite the shortages and censorship of the war |
| and delicate silk. Created by artists including Le Pho, | | | | years, quite a bit of world literature was carefully |
| Mai Trung Thu and Vu Cao Dam these pieces of art | | | | translated into Vietnamese and widely distributed |
| are pristinely preserved. Lacquer practice has held a | | | | gradually. This translated world literature greatly |
| major role throughout the history of Vietnamese Art, | | | | influenced the spiritual life of Vietnam. The small |
| and particularly so in 20th Century Vietnam, when a | | | | chunk of world literature that was allowed to |
| new approach, through color and form, was | | | | circulate in Vietnam during the “years of the |
| employed to develop this ancestral technique in order | | | | march towards socialism,” the years of heroic |
| to promote it as an aesthete that is unique to | | | | warfare” and the “gloomy immediate |
| Vietnam. | | | | post-war years,” had been carefully filtered |
| Vietnam has longstanding folk traditions. Techniques | | | | and wrenched from their original contexts. Efforts of |
| and styles are often handed down within families | | | | contemporary Vietnam artists have been successful |
| from generation to generation. Vietnamese Art | | | | in reviving the exquisite and inimitable elements, not |
| shows a strong Chinese influence. Traditional Buddhist | | | | only of erstwhile Vietnam but have also raised some |
| art forms are very much evident on the sculptures | | | | of the present-day humanitarian issues. Vietnamese |
| and paintings of Vietnamese artists. These art forms | | | | art has thus taken a stride ahead towards presenting |
| are made to complement and enhance traditional | | | | South-East Asia as a cultural patron in the field of |
| practices found in temples, monasteries, centers, | | | | global fine arts. |