History & Exhibitions in Da Nang Fine Arts Museum

The Da Nang Museum of Fine Arts was established on 29th July 2014, to preserve and introduce traditional arts in the central coastal and highlands regions of Vietnam. It’s the 3rd state fine arts museum in Vietnam (after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city) and the first one in the central Vietnam region. Today, this museum is home to 1,400 artifacts and art works, created by both local and foreign artists. The materials to make them are also diverse (silk, stone, metal, wood, clay,…)

On the first floor (ground floor), visitors will see the temporary exhibitions and art spaces for children. If bring luggages or bags or food/drink, it’s needed to use lockers here to store them during the visit. Don’t forget to take an English visiting map (Korean and Vietnamese languages are also available).

On the second floor, in turn, visitors will see these collections:

– oil paintings-sculptures: the ones painted by famous Vietnamese artists, like Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988) who was one of the last generations graduated from the Indochina College of Fine Arts and specialized in oil paintings, especially about Hanoi old quarters. Topics in this collection are about nature and life in Da Nang/Hoi An, such as the Han river, Hoi An’s old town, etc.

– lacquer paintings-sculptures: this art originates in China from ancient times, and later spreads to neighbouring countries, such as Korea, Vietnam. However, it just reached its peak in the 1930s when the first generations of Vietnamese artists graduated from the Indochina College of Fine Arts (today Vietnam University of Fine Arts). They research using new materials (what are seen in Vietnam) to create lacquered art works. For example, they use egg shells or bamboo. At the Museum of Fine Arts Da Nang, visitors will see paintings portraying the Marble Mountains, or local festivals, or local folk performances or local life.

– silk paintings-sculptures: this collection is more special because it showcases paintings with background material as silk.

– graphic art paintings-sculptures: showcasing different materials and techniques such as woodblock printing, zinc/copper/silk printing, hand writing, bamboo graphics,… 

– revolutionary war theme: showcasing typical sketches of two solder-painters Ha Xuan Phong and Nguyen Duc Hanh as well as sculptures, wood carvings about the wars in Vietnam in the past. Many paintings depict life and fighting scenes of what happened in Military Zone 5 of Vietnam.  

On the third floor, visitors will see these collections:

– Collection of Vietnamese artist Le Cong Thanh: Mr Le Cong Thanh is borned in 1932 in Hai Chau district, Da Nang. He is the first generation of artists graduated in the Vietnam University of Fine Arts (formerly the Indochina College of Fine Arts). He is one of the greatest Vietnamese sculptors in 20th century. So, a collection of things he created at Da Nang Fine Arts Museum honours his creativity, passion, and contributions. Le Cong Thanh artist’s collection is the highlight of the museum. By the way, this man has a stone sculpture at Bien Dong Park which depicts Au Co Mother, mother of all Vietnamese people.

– Collection of Japanese artist Mr Toyokichi Itoh: Mr Toyokichi Itoh is a Japanese merchant and he started collecting paintings from Vietnam in 1990s. In 2020, he will give 238 art works to Da Nang city, and at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum, 22 of them are on display. This collection is abundant, including sculptures and paintings depicting landscapes, self-portraits, daily life, etc across the country.

– Folk arts: this exhibition introduces different traditional handicrafts in the area, such as stone carving at Non Nuoc Village (near Marble Mountains), pottery making at Thanh Ha Village (in Hoi An) or La Thap Village (near My Son Sanctuary), wood carving at Kim Bong Village (in Hoi An), bronze making at Phuoc Kieu Village (near Hoi An), mask making, woodblock painting at Sinh Village, ceramics making, etc. In addition, visitors also have the chance to see wood sculptures carved by K’tur people and other ethnicities who live in mountainous areas to the west of Da Nang.