Talk, Tour + Networking at the Indochine Scenes: Vietnamese and French Paintings from the 1900s

About

#besmartaboutart networking is a monthly opportunity to meet artists, curators & other art world peers, view exhibitions and spaces, and expand knowledge – creative and professional alike!

About the exhibition:

Indochine, the French colonial region including present day Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, was founded in 1887 and lasted until the defeat of the French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. During these seven decades, the French were active in promoting 'La Mission Civilisatrice' - the spread of French culture, especially architecture and fine art, throughout the region. Hanoi, as the capital of Indochine, enjoyed special attention. Thanks to the inspiration of two French painters, Victor Tardieu and Joseph Inguimberty, the Ecole Des Beaux Arts d'Indochine (EBAI) was founded in Hanoi in 1924. Additional French painter-travellers, enthralled by the landscapes and feminine beauty, joined the school and together with local Vietnamese artists, forged the unique fusion which characterises Vietnamese fine art up to and including the present.

A first encounter with Vietnamese art evokes surprise as well as delight. Familiar mediums, such as oil, gouache and watercolor, join with distinctly Asian motifs and spatial concepts. Stylistic elements of Impressionism, Expressionism, figurative art, Cubism and Fauvism intermingle with purely traditional Vietnamese themes of emotional experience and spiritual values as represented by the village, the buffalo and ancient dances. The juxtaposition of handmade paper, woodblock prints and traditional lacquer painting with contemporary artistic techniques bridges the temporal worlds of past, present and future, while spanning the cultural divide between the East and West.

The exhibition includes work by French peintres voyageurs (painter-travellers) including  Marie-Antoinette Boullard-Devé (1890-1970), Marcel Bernanose (1884-1952) and Louis Rollet (1895-1988); a selection of mid-century Vietnamese paintings on paper, silk, lacquer and canvas; and works by renowned 20th century Vietnamese artists Le Pho, Luu Cong Nhan, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Phung Pham and Vinh Phoi.

Exhibition runs: 3 – 10 November

Further information on Asian Art in London  https://www.asianartinlondon.com/

About Raquelle Azran

Raquelle Azran is a collector, curator and gallerist who has specialised in Vietnamese contemporary fine art since 1991.

As a curator and gallerist: 

Ms Azran has curated gallery and museum exhibitions in New York, London, Singapore, Tel Aviv, Hanoi, The Hague, Amsterdam, and Washington, D.C., and each year, she participates in Asian Art in London. Recent themed shows include Nudes and Narratives from the Mekong, Harmonies of Space and Time, and Worlds of Paper and Wood. Museum exhibitions include Here and Hereafter, Vietnamese Vibes, and Women Painters, Painted Women. Her exhibitions have been featured in the International Herald Tribune and The Times (London), and Of This and Other Worlds was selected by The Guardian (London) as one of the five best exhibitions in London in 2007.

She also participates in fairs in multiple international locations, including London, Brussels, Paris, Hamburg, Milan, Stockholm, New York and Palm Beach. Furthermore, she serves as a consultant to foreign embassies, art institutions, corporate clients and collectors.

As a private collector:

Ms Azran lends pieces from her private collection for museum shows.

As a specialist in Vietnamese art: 

She writes and lectures (English, French and Hebrew) on Vietnamese contemporary fine art worldwide. Recent media interviews and reviews include Artnews, Artists and Illustrators, Vietnam Television Culture Magazine, The Tao Van Hoa, Tien Phong Chu Ngot, and Viet Nam News.

Find out more: 

www.artnet.com/razran.html

About the Event:

With arrivals from at 6.30-6.45pm, we will gather all attendees to hear Ms Raquelle Azran speak about the exhibition and her experiences with Vietnamese art. This will be followed by Susan J Mumford, Founder of Be Smart About Art, who will provide three top networking tips designed for professionals in the field. There will be plenty of opportunity for mixing and mingling, as well as the viewing of art on display.

Note that arrivals are welcome at any time between 6.30pm – 8.30pm 
Ready to go? Book your place and we'll look forward to seeing you there!

KEY INFORMATION & BOOKING: 

This monthly BSAA Members' event has been running since 2012. Free for Members to attend, individuals who have not yet joined our professional community are welcome to book a visitor ticket and attend once prior to committing to join Be Smart About Art.

Interested in joining a supportive community for art professionals? Discover Membership Benefits and join today. Check out our other events here: www.besmartaboutart.com/events​

Refund Policy: Refunds are available up to 24 hours prior to the event taking place (which can be requested directly via your Eventbrite booking confirmation email). Please direct any questions to savvy@besmartaboutart.com