Dragon tales: Rong Thieng (Sacred Dragon), oil and mixed media by artist Vinh Phoi, is on display at the Khong Gian va Tiet Dieu II (Space and Rhythm II) exhibition at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

HCM CITY — A collection of abstract paintings by artist Vinh Phoi called Khong Gian va Tiet Dieu II (Space and Rhythm II) is on display at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

The exhibition showcases 50 works in oil, aquarelle and mixed media, including one sculpture in gemstone and enamel.

"My creations emerge from the emotions of an artist who has spent most of his life trying to depict reality, and through that, to expose the hidden parts of life," Phoi said.

Nhip Song Do Thi (Urban Rhythm), Le Hoi Hoa Dang (Lantern Festival) and Nu Sinh va Mua He (Female Students and Summer) are among the paintings depicting various aspects of life.

The Hue-based artist graduated from the Gia Dinh College of Fine Arts in the late 1950s, and then continued his study in painting, sculpture and history of art in Rome.

According to art critic Huynh Huu Uy, Phoi seeks to show a harmonious blending of Western and Oriental arts, and the Vietnamese soul and European modern view.

His works consist of outstanding images obtained from the ancient civilisation of Dong Son, signs and symbols of Oriental culture such as yin and yang, and the square and circle representing the earth and the cosmos.

Such images can be seen in his works Rong Thieng (Sacred Dragon), Chien Si Dong Son (Dong Son Warrior), and Vu Tru va Con Nguoi (Cosmos and Humans).

Phoi has had several solo and group exhibitions in Viet Nam and other countries, including Italy, Japan and France.

He won a silver medal at the International Student Exhibition Roma in 1961 and a silver medal at the International Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Italy a year later.

Phoi's paintings can be found in museums in Viet Nam, Italy, France, Japan and other countries.

The exhibition runs until May 15 at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in District 1. — VNS