Sculptures that break loose from the traditional Vietnamese sculpture mold to capture elements of modernity in an impressive fashion are being featured at an ongoing art exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City.

Over 50 works from 26 domestic sculptors, some still in their 20s, are on display at the exhibition in the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts through January 1.

This year’s numbers of participants and visitors are noteworthy, given the fact that only five sculptors joined the biennial event when it was first held eight years ago in a country where sculpture is less popular than other visual arts.

But what could be more interesting is the breath of change breathed into the artworks on display.

Artist-and-critic Nguyen Quan said the exhibition is a rare event of its type to bring together Vietnam’s best contemporary sculptures while giving a panoramic look of the country’s sculpture landscape and its new features.

Pig-themed works by Pham Thai Binh captivate attention as his objects in shapes of pigs – Vietnam’s zodiac sign for lunar 2019 – can move freely in vacuum thanks to a technology he himself finds gripping.

Art researcher Phan Cam Thuong said unlike painting, domestic sculpture found no lucrative market and sculptors produced works mainly as monuments and structures commissioned by the government and private companies.

Many sculptors who have works displayed at the exhibition said they used to moonlight for better earnings but have been able to live on the sale of their own sculptures in recent years.

Nguyen Hoai Huyen Vu’s Street 1 at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Ku Kao Khai’s pig sculptures are displayed at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tran An’s Remains at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Do Hai Hoai’s Allergy 1 at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Ku Kao Khai’s pig sculptures are displayed at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Le Anh Vu’s Lunar January Fruit at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tran Mai Huu Qui’s Drift King at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Le Lang Luong’s On the other side of mountains at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Do Ha Hoai’s Allergy at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Vu Binh Minh’s Cloud and rain at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tran Viet Ha’s Wire Street at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Dang Duc Thanh’s Cradle of life at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Pham Thai Binh’s pig at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Pham Thai Binh’s Piglets in arms at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Phan Phuong’s Nude 2 at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Pham Thai Binh’s Crime Punishment Pig at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, December 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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