Flaming good: An oil on canvas painting (top) titled Tay (Hand) by Nguyen Hac Long and one of 12 Lua (Fire) paintings by Phuong Vu Manh

HA NOI (VNS)— The first joint exhibition by two close friends, painter Phuong Vu Manh and martial arts instructor Nguyen Hac Long, is now open in Ha Noi, portraying both similar and different opinions that they have on life, through 24 oil paintings.

Entitled Lo (The Way), the exhibition highlights Manh's interest in experimenting with various genres of contemporary art and Long's passion for painting and the martial arts.

Both collections of paintings by the two friends have distant personalities and promise to intrigue and leave a deep impression on viewers.

Long was born in 1966 in the northern province of Thai Nguyen. He founded the Shaolin Kungfu Viet Nam Martial Arts School and now works as an instructor. This is the second time he has held an exhibition in Ha Noi.

The main topics in Long's works are life and religion. He seems to ignore the rational principles of the plastic arts technique while conveying his sentimental approach.

"For me, painting is not just a passion, it's also a way I express my love and feelings about nature and people and what's happening around me which martial arts can't help me to do," he said.

"Painting and martial arts are two integral things in my life which help me live happily and have a desire to do good."

Manh, born in 1969 in Ha Noi, is a familiar name to fans of contemporary art as he was one of the first body painters in Viet Nam.

This time he has produced 12 paintings in oil and synthetic materials on the subject of fire. This exhibition is a testament to his love of painting, which is as furious as a burning fire. The untitled and inspirational works may give viewers a different way of feeling and thinking about the fire in everyone's heart.

The exhibition will run until Wednesday at the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ha Noi. — VNS