EXHIBITION - POP UP ART: Vietnamese Propaganda Art, Melbourne Jul 27-30, 2010. [09.07.2010]
POP UP ART: Vietnamese Propaganda Art
Vietnamese Propaganda Art is the first of MiFA’s POP UP ART series. These exhibitions will be held for short periods of time at MiFA and allow the gallery to spontaneously react to issues concerning the Asia-Pacific region and hold non-commercial exhibitions.
For our first installment of POP UP ART MiFA has teamed up with Deborah Salter Fine Art. Over the past few years Salter’s interest in Vietnamese art has led her to collect a range of original gouache Vietnamese propaganda posters from the 1950s to the 1980s.The works are varied depictions of Vietnam during this period with many created to encourage farming techniques while some call upon the North Vietnamese to support the war effort. Together the posters reflect four decades in the development of modern Vietnam. From emerging nationalism under Ho Chi Minh, interpretations of the American-Vietnam War of the 60s and 70s to the promotion of the reunification and renovation from 1975 to the mid 1980s these images delve into a view of Vietnam that Australians have yet to see.
The posters in the exhibition reflect a variety of naïve painterly techniques. Some display the influence of the French colonial aesthetics where a softer colour palette was used to appeal to the peasant population to work harder to increase food production. Others are strongly influenced by the Soviet Block propaganda graphics, in which bright, bold colours were employed to evoke emotion and encourage patriotism and urge young people to enlist in the forces. The artistic techniques employed throughout the collection allow the viewer to see how each artist presented their own unique and direct approach to propaganda art.
For four days MiFA invites you to engage with these works as major pieces of art from a historic period in our region. With a panel discussion of art professionals and historians and lunchtime tours MiFA and Deborah Salter Fine Art welcome you to explore these works that illustrate a snapshot of such an important historical period for both Vietnam and the Asia-Pacific region.
WHEN
Tuesday July 27 – Friday July 30, 2010.WHERE
MiFA
Level 1, 278 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.
PROGRAMS
Introductory Talks
1pm daily. Free. No bookings necessary.
Panel Discussion
Tuesday 27 July, 6pm
Free (bookings essential)
www.trybooking.com/GGY
Join Ms Deborah Salter, Assoc. Prof. Robyn Sloggett, Dr Colin Long, Dr Thu-Huong Nguyen and Mr. Phong Nguyen for a discussion on the artistic and historical significance of these remarkable works of art. Each member will speak independently for a short period, followed by a panel discussion, chaired by Mr Roger Peacock. Questions will then be taken from the audience.
Speakers:
- Ms Deborah Salter (Director, Deborah Salter Fine Art-specialist in Vietnamese art)
- Assoc. Prof. Robyn Sloggett (Director of the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation)
- Dr Colin Long (Post-Doctoral Fellow, Deakin University, School of Social and International Studies)
- Dr Thu-Huong Nguyen (Lecturer, Victoria University, Business and Law Faculty)
- Mr Phong Nguyen (Federal President, Vietnamese Community in Australia)
Chair: Mr Roger Peacock (Former Executive Director of the Asian Studies Council, Head of the International Division of the Commonwealth Department of Employment, and Vice-Principal (University Development) at The University of Melbourne)