Communal houses always bear typical arts of fine arts, sculpture and architecture as well as spiritual beauty of locals. — Photo vietnamnay.com

HA NOI (VNS) — An art exhibition featuring the unique spaces found in northern communal houses will be opened in downtown Ha Noi on Friday.

The exhibition will showcase photos on the art of sculpture and architecture found in communal houses and documentaries on traditional festivals organised at the worship places. Also, singers will perform at the opening ceremony, while a conference on preservation and utilising the space offered in communal houses in modern life will be held during the exhibition. The conference is to gather researchers of arts, history, archaeology and culture.

Village communal houses were always central locations where residents worshipped village gods, who were depicted as either real or surreal figures who were believed to have helped in building villages, fighting off invaders or teaching handicraft trades to residents. Communal houses throughout the north had been places for local residents to gather, exchange information and organise traditional festivals.

Communal houses always displayed typical examples of fine arts, sculpture and architecture, as well as the spiritual beauty of local inhabitants.

However, in the last few years communal houses in some villages have been endangered, due to the fast process of urbanisation and industrialisation.

The exhibition will run till December 19 at the Ha Noi Fine Arts Museum, 42 Yet Kieu Street. — VNS