Colourful bonds: Peter Pollag's painting of a young Vietnamese woman riding a bicycle across the River Danube in Bratislava. — Photo courtesy of Slovakian Embassy

HA NOI  (VNS)  — Prominent Slovakian artist Peter Pollag expects to help enhance the friendship and mutual understanding between Viet Nam and his country through his paintings.

His solo exhibition has been organised in Ha Noi to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of ties between Viet Nam and Slovakia.

Pollag has named the exhibition Finding Each Other – which is the name of one of his popular paintings – with the expectation that the people of the two countries will come closer to each other.

"Viet Nam and Slovakia are far from each other geographically," he said. "Through cultural exchanges, we will find a common voice."

When Pollag planned his trip and exhibition in Viet Nam, he saw films and photos of the country to get more information about it.

He had never been to Viet Nam earlier, but painted a Vietnamese woman with his imagination. This resulted in the painting of a young woman in ao dai (traditional women dress), riding a bicycle across the river Danube.

Slovakian Ambassador Igor Pacolak remarked that Pollag is a veteran and an excellent artist. "His paintings are expressive and imaginative, dynamic and mystical, and full of movement and life," he said.

"He shifts both in space and time, and uncovers the destinies of temporary people through strong metaphors and symbols.

"Mythology, history and literature are important themes in his works. He portrays parallels between various cultures and interprets well-known motives in a new way."

At the exhibition, Pollag presented several small and medium-sized paintings (about 57cm by 58cm and 140cm by 200cm), representing his various genres such as screen prints, mixed media and water colours on paper.

He also introduced Danube Wings, a 11.5m-tall sculpture displayed at the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum in Bratislava. The ferro-concrete and glass mosaic piece has become a symbol of art in the city.

Born in 1958, Pollag graduated from fine arts colleges in Bratislava, Perugia, Prague and Paris, besides Madrid. He taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava till 1990. Then he focused on creative work.

The artist has had a great number of solo and joint exhibitions. His works can be found in public and private collections around the world. He has participated in several symposia and creative camps, and has been awarded numerous prestigious awards at home and abroad.

He lives in Bratislava and works on small-size and monumental-size paintings, graphic prints, book illustrations and sculptures.

The exhibition will run till Sunday at the Viet Nam University of Fine Arts, 42 Yet Kieu Street, Ha Noi. Then it will be showcased in Hai Phong and HCM City. — VNS