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Colourful: Many young people have been drawn to the homosexual art exhibition Mo (Open). — VNA Photo |
HA NOI — An exhibition featuring the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Viet Nam has been organised in Ha Noi after meeting success in HCM City.
With 35 photos, paintings and installations, the exhibition entitled Mo (Open) portrays the variety and colour of life and love. The exhibition seeks to help visitors understand different points of view.
The Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE) and the Information Connecting and Sharing Group (ICS) launched the project.
The exhibition is on display at universities and colleges in Ha Noi until the end of May. Recently, the exhibit was held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and it will then travel to Thang Long University today. Later this month, it will make stops at the Viet Nam Forestry University, Ha Noi University of Law, the College of Physical Culture and Sports and the College of Transport and Foreign Trade University.
"Universities co-operating and supporting the project illustrates that the society is opening up to homosexuals," says Le Quang Binh, iSEE's director.
"Artworks displayed at the exhibition were selected carefully. We expect people to have a tolerant attitude toward homosexuals and to recognise the variety of love in life and to learn more about the third gender."
Phan Nha Trang said she is honoured that her photo essay, The Gioi Thu Ba (The Third World), is being displayed at the exhibition.
"I have many friends that are transgender and I find that they are talented and strong," Trang says.
"We want people to open their minds about homosexual people, who desire to love and be loved just like everyone else," she said.
Homosexual people are sometimes discriminated against and they can have a difficult time integrating into the public, but here they stand beside their art and explain the meaning of it to the visitors.
Nguyen Hai Long, who is a member of the organising board, says they carefully selected the artworks to be displayed.
The group did experience difficulties when they asked for permission, but the exhibition was eventually green lighted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the universities.
"The exhibition has received a positive response from the public and especially young people," Long says. "The opening of the exhibition drew 3,000 visitors."
Bao An was surprised by the exhibit and was impressed by the installation The Gioi Muon Mau (Colourful World).
"I think the artist describes the difficulties that homosexuals face when they are trying to be themselves," An says.
The exhibition will be presented together with a play, Stereo Man, by Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre's actors. — VNS