Exhibitions
National Museum of Art (National Institute of Fine Arts)
Jul 06 - Jul 20, 2018
From 6th to 20th July 2018, a Collective Art Exhibition was held at the National Institute of Fine Arts in Vientiane, the capital of Lao PDR. The exhibition was founded by four Laotian artists, including Mr. May Chandavong, a leading figure in the Laos art world, and it was realized with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Laos and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
Twelve artists who are Laotians or artists with roots in Laos jointly exhibited paintings, sculptures, and other works. This was a group of four founders of this exhibition and eight pupils who respect them as their mentors for art. They call themselves 'the MASK Group of Artists'. 'MASK' is an acronym for the four founders (Mr. May Chandavong, Mr. Anoulom Souvandouane, Mr. Sorasinh Bannavong, and Mr. Kongphat Luangrath). This type of joint exhibition was held for the first time in Laos, except for very small ones that individuals volunteers have done. Sengchanh Douangmany, a staff member of the National Museum of Art, who herself exhibits her works as an artist, was pleased to hold this art exhibition saying "This is a landmark effort to make Laotian artists and their works widely known."
The paintings on display were diverse, and depicted from the culture, life and nature in Laos to even the chaotic spiritual world with strong contrasts: traditional high-floored dwellings and people's livelihoods in Laos which can now be seen only in rural areas, dance performances at weddings and Buddhist rituals, a national flower called Champa, and the spiritual world was depicted abstractive.
In recent years, the government of Laos has positioned tourism as one of its main industries, and has been focusing on the development of infrastructure and the development of content to increase the number of tourists. If art exhibitions such as this one are held frequently, it can be expected that it will be an opportunity for foreigners visiting Laos to learn more about Laotian artists and contemporary art works.
The work by Mr. Somboun Phounesombat (66), who continues to paint traditional high-floored dwellings in Lao PDR.
The work of Kongphat Luangrath, one of the founders. Characterized by a style that uses only a single-color ballpoint pen to intricately draw countless lines. Currently 68 years old, he studied painting in Hungary when he was young, and even though he suffers from Parkinson's disease now, he continues to work energetically.
The work of one of the founders, Mr. Anoulom Souvandouane. The dining tables of rural Laos are vividly painted. He learned art in Russia. The original picture of the current Laos kip bill is depicted by him.
The work of the director of the museum, and the president of the Lao Art Society, Mr. Maising Chanboutdy.
The work of Sengchanh Douangmany and herself, who are also officials at the National Museum of Art. "Drawing is part of everyday life", she says.
