Art & Entertainment News 17/1 Photographer brings Vietnam to Cyprus A photo by Gian Thanh Son. The beauty of Vietnam's seas and islands is the focus of Gian Thanh Son's latest exhibition of photographs which will open next week in Nicosia, Cyprus. Thirty-colour photographs were selected from the artist's collection, Dao va bo bien Vietnam (Vietnam's Seas and Islands), the result of more than 20 years of work. All works highlight landscapes in coastal provinces such as Quang Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Khanh Hoa and Tien Giang. Son, 58, one of the country's leading photojournalists, said he wants to introduce the culture, economy, tourism and natural resources of Vietnam. "I love discovering and capturing Vietnam's seas and islands. I want the world to see these areas and their beauty," said Son, who has taken several thousand photos of the islands. "I like Son's aerial photos because they have ideas that make people think after viewing. His works reach into the simple, natural essence (of things)," said author Tran Nha Thuy of Ho Chi Minh City. Son's exhibition was organised to mark 30 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cyprus and Vietnam. It begins on January 19 and ends later this month. Vietnamese photographer shortlisted for int’l creative competition Tran Viet Van has become the first Vietnamese photographer who was shortlisted for the second annual London International Creative Competition (LICC) in professional photography category. His five- photo series, entitled Greed, Hatred and Delusion, expressed the challenges that Buddhist monks have to overcome in their religious life. The photos had been placed second in the fine arts category at the Moscow International Photo Awards 2014. LICC was founded by Farmani Group in 2006. Among others, Farmani has founded many charities, businesses and arts organizations including The Lucie Awards and International Photography Awards. LICC was formed to provide an open platform and even playing field for all artists. The competition is open to artists from around the world and is judged solely on the artwork. Born in 1971, Van graduated with a BA degree in culture from the Hanoi Cultural University in 1992. He currently works for the Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper. He has held nine solo exhibitions and many group exhibitions both at home and abroad, and published four books. He also won a gold medal at the Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3) 2014 for a series of five photos featuring war soldiers. Besides the gold medal in the Portraiture – Other – P category, Van’s set of photos entitled War Commander at Time of Peace also received a bronze medal in the Press – Other category. Both categories are meant for professional photographers. This was the sixth consecutive year that Van has been honoured at the Px3 photography competition, one of the most important events in Europe and created by the founders of International Photography Awards in 2008. Evidence declares Vietnam ownership of Hoang Sa, Truong Sa Nearly 100 exhibits confirming Vietnam ’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos are being displayed at an exhibition in the central province of Binh Thuan. They include photos, maps and documents in Han (classical Chinese used in Vietnam ), Nom (Vietnamese ideographic script), Vietnamese and French languages issued from the 17 th to the outset of the 20 th century by the Vietnamese feudal states and the French government in Indochina (on behalf of the then Vietnamese state). On display are also woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) and other administrative documents issued in the 1954-1975 period and onward by the Vietnamese state that confirm Vietnam’s execution and protection of sovereignty over the two archipelagos for long via peaceful means. Worthy of note is a collection of world atlas compiled and published by the Western countries from the 18 th to the 19 th century, all featuring Vietnam ’s ownership of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Furthermore, maps and atlases officially published by the Chinese state also showed that China had never managed the islands. The exhibition is running from January 16-21 at the Binh Thuan Convention Centre.- Vietnamese, Italian film makers seek partnerships Representatives from the Rome movie council spoke of wishes to establish ties with Vietnamese cinema during an international workshop to promote cinematic cooperation between Vietnam and Italy held on January 15. The event, part of the activities of Vietnamese Cultural Days in Rome, Italy, offered an opportunity for Vietnamese movie makers to gain experience in film making and distribution from their Italian peers, like famous director Michele Placido and TV film producer Stefano Balassone. According to TV film producer Stefano Balassone, the Italian Government and cultural agencies have worked on new orientations for the expansion of cinema connection with developing countries, including Vietnam. At the workshop, actress Truong Ngoc Anh, executive producer of film Huong Ga (Rise) and singer Dam Vinh Hung, representative of the “Hiep Si Mu” (Blind Knight) film crew expressed the readiness to go into partnership with Italian producers. Vietnamese Film Week in Italy kicks off The Vietnamese Film Week in Italy opened in Rome on January 15, as part of the 2015 Vietnamese Cultural Week in Italy. The film ‘Hiep Si Mu’ (Blind Knight) by Director Luu Huynh opened the film week. The event will screen other films including ‘Song Cung Lich Su’ (Living with History) by Director Nguyen Thanh Van, ‘Nhung Dua Con Cua Lang’ (Children of the Village) by Director Nguyen Duc Viet and ‘Huong Ga’ by Director Cuong Ngo. The Vietnamese Cultural Week in Italy opened on January 12 with an exhibition detailing the distinguished traditional values of the country, including the Gong from the central highlands region, handmade brocade products, pottery, handicrafts, traditional clothes and traditional musical instruments. The cultural week also features workshops to promote tourism, economic and cinematic co-operation between Vietnam and Italy. The event runs until January 26, aiming to promote the land and people of Vietnam. Traditional music returns to the big stage Lovers of “Hat Xam” (blind buskers’ singing) will have a chance to savour a spectacular art performance of the traditional music genre “ at the Hanoi Opera House on January 20. The event is co-hosted by the Centre for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Traditional Culture and the Centre for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Traditional Music in an attempt to reaffirm the art’s emblematic value to Vietnamese traditional folk music. Director of the Centre for Research, Preservation and Promotion of Vietnamese Traditional Culture, Professor Hoang Chuong, who is also general director of the performance programme, said the art was very popular in many northern localities and Hanoi during the early 20 th century. The performance will consist of three parts, traditional Xam, contemporary Xam, and Xam in combination with other musical genres. The event will feature numerous artists, including Thanh Ngoan, Thuy Ngan, saxophone artist Phan Anh Dung, singer Ha Linh, beat boxer Minh Kien, and the Ha Thanh Xam group. Ancient sculptures of lions and “Nghe” exhibited in HCM City The Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in collaboration with the provincial Museum of Nam Dinh and the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts on January 15 opened an exhibition on old Vietnamese lion and “Nghe” sculptures. In Vietnamese culture, “Nghe” animal is a fictional creature with lion-like head, long tail and dog-like body. On display are 55 objects under the Ly, Tran, Post-Le, and Nguyen dynasties (from 10 th to 19 th century), which are made of different materials, ranging from stone, pottery, wood, to copper and glazed terra-cotta. A number of scientific documents and materials about ancient Vietnamese masterpieces, collected by various organisations and individuals, are introduced at the event. The exhibition looks to popularise values of the national arts heritage treasure among citizens in Ho Chi Minh City since it is the first of its kind held in the city, according to Ma Thanh Cao, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. It also aims to improve the citizens’ awareness of the country’s ancient masterpieces and enhance their respect for the traditional cultural heritage, she added. The exhibition will run until February 12. Cypress celebrates Vietnam Cultural Week A host of Vietnamese celebrities are planning to descend upon Cyprus to celebrate Vietnam cultural week commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cyprus (1975-2015) diplomatic ties. Dang Thu Thao, Miss Vietnam 2012, will be on hand for the two week event running January 18-30 as the country’s official goodwill ambassador. On January 18, Vietnamese actors and actresses Chi Bao, Truong Ngoc Anh and Kim Ly will attend an exchange and a screening of Huong Ga (Perfume) in Limassol city. One day later, a large number of prominent public figures will lead a seminar aiming to boost tourism cooperation between the two countries in Nicosia city. On the same day, Vietnamese representatives will open a two-day exhibition on Vietnam’s sea and islands, featuring 30 photographs selected from a 20-year photography project conducted by photographer Gian Thanh Son. The cultural week aims to introduce Vietnam’s culture, people and landscape to international friends and strengthen solidarity and friendship between the two countries. VNS/SGT/VNA