The Gala event for PICTURE Art Foundation's latest exhibit was a resounding success!
I enjoyed the food, the company and the art. There was a pleasant, appreciative atmosphere to the evening, despite the chilly wind outside. Visitors and artists milled about in the various gallery spaces, gazing at canvas after canvas and perhaps making some comments here and there, reading the placards placed next to each work.
At 6:15, the President of the University made a speech celebrating the achievements of the foundation, followed by the president of the Foundation, who announced the essay contest winners and had them recognized by all present. The president of the Foundation then recognized the artists whose work hung on the walls, inviting the crowd to applaud their achievement as well.
The highlight of the exhibit was a collection of paintings by You Khin, a Cambodian artist who passed away last year. His widow You Muoy was present to say a few words of gratitude and express her emotions on this monumental event, the U.S. premiere of his work. I had the honor of meeting Ms. You later in the evening and thanking her in turn for sharing her late husband's work.
The rest of the exhibit consisted of artwork from around the world, some 110 pieces selected by the PICTURE Art Foundation which display themes related to the concept of "I Have the Right" - with four subcategories: to be free, to express myself, to dream and to love. One of my favorite artists from this exhibition as well as the previous, "On Being Human: Love, Faith, Shame and Hope", is Ilya Sachar, who uses sand painting and pebble mosaics of colorful stones to bring scenes to life. Ho Thanh Duc's work was displayed as well, in particular a large canvas painted with myriads of upturned faces in suffering. Another interesting piece to me was a piece of calligraphy by another Vietnamese artist expressing his longing for his motherland - the word "Viet" forms the abstract shape of Vietnam in red, over a golden sun.
The founder of PICTURE Art Foundation is Dr. Thai Q. Ha, also Vietnamese. I believe it is his aesthetic to place elegant orchid plants throughout the gallery, a welcoming sign of life in a gallery full of painted canvases and stone sculptures. It certainly works! Whenever I have spare time on campus I tend to wander over to PICTURE for a chat with James, the director, and for a chance to enjoy the high-quality artwork that is continually displayed. After all, life is too short to die.
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