“Retrospect, Contemplate the Future” – The creative journey of three veteran painters

“Three painterly languages, three distinct personalities, now coexisting in one space to create a meaningful milestone in the history of Vietnamese fine arts” — this was shared by painter Lương Xuân Đoàn at the opening of the exhibition Retrospect, Contemplate the Future, which presents works by painters Lý Trực Sơn, Ca Lê Thắng and Đào Minh Tri.

From 13 September to 26 October 2025, the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) presents Retrospect, Contemplate the Future — a large-scale art event bringing together three representative figures of Vietnamese fine arts during the Đổi Mới period: Lý Trực Sơn, Ca Lê Thắng and Đào Minh Tri.

Featuring 100 paintings, the exhibition offers an emotionally resonant retrospective journey into the artists’ sustained creative paths and deeply personal artistic imprints. Belonging to the same generation and trained at the Vietnam College of Fine Arts (the predecessor of today’s Vietnam University of Fine Arts), each artist nevertheless chose a distinct trajectory, reflecting regional colours and particular cultural sensibilities.

Retrospect, Contemplate the Future is not merely an encounter of paintings, but a “symphony” between memory and vision, between traditional, modern and global cultural elements. Through the exhibition, viewers can sense the artists’ continuous efforts to forge an independent “Vietnamese artistic language,” where retrospection becomes a way of looking further into the future.

The exhibition also marks a special occasion commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts (1925–2025) — an institution that has nurtured generations of Vietnamese artists.

Throughout the exhibition period, VCCA will host a series of interactive activities such as talks, guided tours and art experiences, opening up a space for connection between the public and contemporary art.

Exhibition information

• Time: 10:00–21:00, from 13.09 to 26.10.2025
• Venue: Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA), B1–R3 Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyễn Trãi, Thanh Xuân District, Hanoi
• Admission: Free