Rural landscape: Visitors look at Que Huong II (Countryside II), a painting on display at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum. — VNS File Photo

HCM CITY (VNS) — The lotus flower and beauty of Vietnamese women are the main inspirations for ceramic works and paintings by artist Nguyen Nhu Quang now on display at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

Nhan Duyen (Predestined affinity) displays 40 oil and lacquer paintings, and some ceramic-lacquer works that the Ha Noi-based artist has created over the last five years.

Quang's paintings mostly feature images of Vietnamese women and countryside landscapes, as can be seen in Thien Su (Angels), Que huong II (Countryside II) and Doi Sen, a collection of four vases depicting the development of lotus flower.

Quang, a graduate of pottery and lacquer at the Industrial Arts University, is a creator of the Gom Quang (Quang Ceramic) brand, which specialises in ceramic-lacquer products.

The museum is also hosting an exhibition of works by HCM City-based artist Tran Ngoc Duc.

Khong diem nhin: Ngoi den, Niem tin va Con nguoi be nho (No Direction: Temple, Faith and the Little Human Being) consists of 22 acrylic-on-canvas paintings.

Duc said he used images on Sai Gon streets like Han Thuyen Street and Notre Dame Cathedral to describe the relationship between faith and people, as well as the contradictions they carry inside.

Works on display include Tro chuyen voi niem tin (Talk with the Faith) and Khi niem tin bong bien mat (When Faith Was Lost).

Both exhibitions, which opened on September 6, will remain open until September 13 at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in District 1. — VNS