Obsession by Vo Thanh Than

HA NOI (VNS) — Obsession, a painting by Vo Thanh Than has won the first prize at the fourth Dogma Portrait Painting Prize contest.

The artist will receive a cash prize of VND120 million (more than US$5,000).

The 1.2m by 1.6m oil-on-canvas entitled Noi Aùm Aûnh (Obsession) was painted in one month.

"I'm obsessed by death, which exists in every moment of life. It inspires me to create artworks," artist Than said.

The painting was Than's first after he graduated from the Fine Arts College in the central province of Hue. He spent four years working as an interior decorator after leaving college. He did not paint during this time.

Portrait by Nguyen Dinh Duy Quan

Than painted Obsession early this year, marking his return to painting. It was highly appreciated by his colleagues, who suggested he should send it to the Dogma contest.

"I knew about the contest, but forgot about it and other art contests as well due to my focus on earning money," he said.

"I thought of sending the painting to the contest for fun. But I had a little hope of winning when my painting was shortlisted for the final round. However, I didn't think about the first prize."

The painting has been selected for the Dogma collection. It is the first one in a series that Than will paint about his obsession with death.

Portrait by Nguyen Khac Chinh

The Dogma Prize is organised by the Mekong Artists Company and sponsored by arts collector Dominic Scriven for Vietnamese artists aged 18 and above.

The prize aims to inspire artists to explore the infinite possibilities that the challenge of producing a self-portrait provides and to encourage the participation of young and emerging talents.

Three other prizes were also awarded to Nguyen Dinh Duy Quyen, Nguyen Khac Chinh and Y Nhi. Each of them will receive VND25 million.

A painting by Y Nhi.

The contest received more than 400 entries. They were judged by deputy head of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association Luong Xuan Doan, artist and art critic Pham Thi Nhu Quynh and Italian artist-curator Richard San Marzano.

The 43 artworks that reached the final round are on display at the Viet Nam National Fine Arts Museum. The exhibition will run till August 18 at 66, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. — VNS