HCM CITY (VNS)  — Truong The Linh has won this year's Dogma Prize, the theme of which was self-portraiture, and a VND120 million (US$5,700) cash award that comes with it.

The annual painting prize is given by art company Mekong Artists Company and the HCM City-based Fine Arts Museum.

The 25-year-old Linh is from Quang Binh and studied at the Hue Art University.

The New Media Award worth VND 60 million went to Huynh Thanh Phu, while three Special Recognition Awards worth VND 20 million each were given to Dang Xuan Hung, Huynh Bao Trung, and Tran The Vinh.

"The third edition of the Dogma Prize attracted submissions from artists whose works we have not seen before, and we are very happy to have received such a wide variety of high quality works," Richard di San Marzano, an artist and curator of Mekong's Dogma Collection, said.

"It appears that the DP has become well established in the art community of Viet Nam."

"We hope to see the prize attract more ‘new media' and experimental art, whilst still encouraging the more traditional paint on canvas and silk, and sculptural works.

"In the future we hope to see the collection on show outside Viet Nam to help bring this aspect of vibrant and exciting Vietnamese creativity to the attention of the wider world."

Dominic Scriven, managing director of Dragon Capital, the sponsor, said: "Dragon Capital is very happy to stand behind the Dogma Prize because the prize is a serious effort to encourage and reward the talented artists of Viet Nam in a particular art form that goes back many centuries.

"We started somewhat unsure of how much interest there would be but have been very encouraged by the extent of participation among the community of painters and other artists." — VNS