The exhibition presents traditional art of a people who have become deeply rooted in the Czech Republic in the last few decades – rich and multiform art of an ancient tradition. Selected artworks from two major state collections of Asian art, the National Gallery in Prague and the National Museum – Náprstek Museum of Asian, African and American Cultures have been selected to demonstrate the specific nature and uniqueness of this art. The core of the exhibition forms a collection of Buddhist sculpture of the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by a selection of traditional painting, graphic art and ceramics. The exhibit of the earliest origin – the bronze drum from the turn of the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. – serves to remind the Don Song culture which flourished in North Vietnam during the 1st century B.C. The dominant construction and sculpture material in Vietnam was wood, and the Czech collections can show off with wooden Buddhist sculptures dating to the 18th and 19th centuries from the north of the country which form the core of the exhibition. The selection of traditional painting and graphic art includes subjects from the most well-known Vietnamese work of literature – a “Kieu” versed novel − Taoist deities, congratulation and satiric subjects of the coloured woodcuts from the Dong Ho village and the subjects of the protecting tigers on the coloured woodcuts from the Hanoi Hang Trong Street.
The typical feature of Vietnamese culture is its great diversity caused by ethnic composition – besides the many people of Vietnamese origin, there are another 53 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam forming a colourful mosaic of cultural and artistic traditions. Its geographical position and long coastline predestined the territory of today’s Vietnam to have robust international relations. Southeast Asia is situated between Asia’s two cultural superpowers – India and China. It is from there that sources of inspiration arrived for centuries, enriching the original Vietnamese traditions, merging with and transforming them into an original body of art. Three major teachings have permeated the society – Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Not strictly separated, they have become intertwined and absorbed elements of earlier local cults. All these trends and styles were reflected in fine arts and provided their themes.
The exhibition has been organized under the auspices of His Excellency Mr. Truong Manh Son, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Association of Vietnamese in the Czech Republic.