Modern society: A painting by Dao Quoc Huy entitled Bong Cua Hien Tai (Present's Shadow) on display.

HA NOI (VNS)— Through the 19 oil paintings displayed in his first solo exhibition, Dao Quoc Huy reveals the life of people in urban areas, reflects the workings of modern society and, to some extent, the visitors' inner mind.

Huy's exhibition, entitled Do Thi Ao (Virtual Urban Area), opened yesterday in Ha Noi, and audiences were instantly wowed by his strong creativity, according to Le Anh Van, rector of the Ha Noi College of Fine Arts.

"At this exhibition I see many beautiful oils on canvases which are large, colourful and contain various symbols and meanings," he said.

Huy agreed. "I use the repetition of some symbols such as fish, flowers, butterflies, masks, cars and marbles to present different aspects of life. The same symbol may contain different meanings in different paintings."

"I have taken a long time to see, think and prepare this work, and one year to finish the 19 paintings to my satisfaction," Huy said. "They are a mixture of reality and virtuality in the society which we belong to."

The painter was born in 1971 in Ha Noi and now works as a lecturer at the Ha Noi College of Fine Arts. He has received many awards from arts festivals in the country and has exhibited extensively at home and abroad in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, China and Switzerland.

The exhibition will run until December 8 at Viet Art Centre, 42 Yet Kieu Street, Ha Noi. — VNS