Hanoi in the eyes of the youth

Twenty-nine vivid award-winning artworks of the illustration contest entitled “Ha Noi is...” are on display at L’Espace in Hanoi until January 2, 2022.

The painting entitled “Hanoi’s Street Vendors” by Dang Thai Tuan won the First Prize of the contest.

What is Hanoi through the artistic viewpoint of young people?

“Hanoi is a land of legends. It is a journey. It is also the place that keeps memories. Hanoi is epitomized by those plastic chairs, the flood, the fragrance of incense, or the beer cans. Hanoi means no rush,” the exhibitor stated.

The young Vietnamese artists, including those who have never been to the city, will surprise visitors to the exhibition with their perspectives and illustrations.

The exhibition “Ha Noi la...” (Ha Noi is...) is organized by UNESCO in collaboration with the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, L’Institut français de Hanoi - L’Espace and Vietnam Local Artist Group.

The exhibition brings together 29 excellent artworks from the namesake illustration contest launched in August 2021. Within one month, the contest has attracted almost 300 artworks by hundreds of young artists.

“What’s Hanoi?” by Le Tien Dung. Hanoi in the imagination of a student who is living and studying in Ho Chi Minh City.

With the evocative theme “Ha Noi is…”, young artists have come up with unconventional and refreshing ideas integrated with a personal touch to portray their own unique Hanoi. The city has been illustrated in digital drawings, silk painting, collage art, lacquer, among others.

The illustration contest is also a part of the Hanoi Rethink project run by UNESCO, UN-Habitat and UNIDO with the support of SOVICO Group to support Ha Noi in realizing its vision of Creative Capital in the field of design, exploring cultural heritage with the engagement of Vietnamese youth who is an essential element for innovation, creativity, and change.

The contest is aimed at promoting the capital city as a city of innovation, worthy of the title “Hanoi - Creative City” awarded by UNESCO in 2019.

Christian Manhart, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, said the exhibition shows that Hanoi – UNESCO Creative City is nurtured by creative people, regardless of whether they are living here.

"As a newcomer, these artworks of different vibes and colors make me feel closer to Hanoi and excited to explore this city. I hope it can be an artistic retreat for its visitors,” he said. 

Thierry Vergon, Director of Institut français de Hanoi – L'Espace, said a creative city should nurture a community of artists creators, support cultural industries and harbor a network of venues and organizations that can help them to grow and develop.

"The international community is certainly willing to accompany Hanoi in its strategy to make culture and creativity one of the priorities. The French Institute has been working with the artistic community for more than two decades and intends to stay a leading partner of the Vietnamese cultural networks,” Vergon said.

The 3rd Second Prize – “Mot bat Bun ngan” (A Bowl of Fresh Noodle with Duck Meat) by Ton Nu Thi Bich. The author draws his grandparents eating Bún ngan - one of the typical and delicious dishes of Hanoi.