KVT and some visual art that made him do a couple of handstands, back springs and even yodel with joy.

Lately I’ve been getting a bit despondent about the state of arty things in the city. I was just climbing out of my heat induced lethargy and ennui to write a few nice words about the Monks and Nuns on the Show at Module 7 and trying to get enough enthusiasm for a hot day ramble to the suburbs to see how Ha Tri Hieu was re-inventing himself at Art Vietnam when I got waylaid at the delectable Affordable Art Show at the teeny but delectable Dong Phong art room…an offshoot of the main Dong Phong Gallery…and not far from the Press Club in Ly Dao Thanh Street.

It’s the perfect show for prospective buyers who don’t know a lot about Vietnamese art and artists to get a little bit up close and personal with ten of the most salable mature male artists, with one, who is just hitting the big time in a big way, thrown into the fray.

I’VE DECIDED TO DO A DOUBLE BANGER WRITE UP ABOUT THE SHOW because it’s just too nice for one big bite.

I’ve had a very soft spot for Mr Long at Dong Phong ever since, way back in the early years of this century I stumbled into his first and equally delectable and much larger Gallery in Ngo Quyen., across the road from the Metropole, where he allowed me to fall in love with the especially delectable, early works of painter Ha Manh Thang whom I consider is one of Vietnam’s most important contemporary artists.

The Dong Phongs realize that most of us can’t afford the thousands of dollars for lots of large canvasses, and, even if we can, we haven’t got the space to hang them. Instead they’re giving us a rare chance to snap up a bargain from some of the best practitioners they deal with….see their arty mob here.

If you are into starting a collection you SHOULDN’T miss out on the small pieces by the youngest of the ten, Nguyen Dinh Hoang Viet (born 1988) from Hue and whose large works are in huge demand….such as this 205 x 90 cm beauty that sold as soon as it was seen in Hue.

Viet has a really delectable selection of small acrylics on newspaper or cardboard.

At $100 a piece they should be snapped up

Two of them already are – by me. This fish on newspaper

and one totally delectable one of a cricket on raw cardboard called ‘Summer’

Read more