Cultural bridge through the colours of Cuba and Latin America
WVR - From December 17, 2025, to January 4, 2026, an exhibition titled “Cuba-Latin America Through Paintings: A Journey to Discover Cultural Identity” will take place at an art space in Hoan Kiem District.
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The event gathers over 50 paintings by 29 renowned artists, carefully selected from two valuable heritage sources: the archives of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam and the personal collection of collector Dao Thanh Chung, who is also the former Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela. This is not just a regular art exhibition but a cultural convergence space where the traditional and modern values of the Latin American continent are vividly presented in the heart of Hanoi – the City for Peace.
Aspiration to bring world culture to Vietnam
For collector Dao Thanh Chung, his affinity with Latin American painting began during his tenure as the Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela.
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| Collector Dao Thanh Chung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela, in an interview with World and Vietnam Report. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
During his time in the South American country, alongside his political duties, he always focused on cultural diplomacy activities. He shared his perception that Latin American painting has made remarkable progress, with artists who, despite being formally trained in Europe, return to maintain and develop their unique styles rich in regional identity.
Thus, carrying the aspiration to implement “two-way cultural diplomacy”, “bringing Vietnamese culture abroad while introducing foreign culture to Vietnam”, he worked diligently to establish relationships with major collectors in Venezuela.
Thanks to their trust, they “entrusted” him with famous works, creating a collection he cherishes as an “invaluable asset”.
The former ambassador shared that the exhibition is an opportunity for the Vietnamese public to directly admire Latin American artworks instead of just knowing them through books.
Especially in the context of the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations (1960-2025), he hopes these paintings will serve as a bridge to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the solidarity and friendship between the two nations.
In the future, Dao Thanh Chung also plans to continue collaborating with foreign representative agencies to introduce more valuable collections from Europe and the world to the capital's public.
Bridging geographical distances
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| Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes assesses the exhibition as a way to express cultural diplomacy through painting. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
From a diplomat's perspective, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes emphasized that the exhibition “Cuba-Latin America Through Paintings: A Journey to Discover Cultural Identity” is a special contribution to introducing the finest artists who have dedicated their lives to reflecting the spirit and soul of the Latin American region.
Ambassador Fuentes also revealed an interesting detail about the origin of the paintings: A significant portion belongs to Cuba's national cultural heritage, preserved at the Embassy in Hanoi under a cultural policy from the early days of the Cuban Revolution. This policy mandates having artworks at foreign representative offices as “a way to establish a special message of solidarity and friendship with other nations”.
Additionally, contributions from private collectors – who hold a special appreciation for Latin American painting – have enriched the exhibition's diversity.
Through the exhibition, the diplomat affirmed a strong message of peace: “We need culture. We need art. We do not need bombs”; he also expressed confidence that despite the geographical distance between Vietnam and Cuba being half the globe apart, the two peoples share a remarkable similarity in valuing life and preserving traditions.
“I think this is a way to express cultural diplomacy through painting,” Ambassador Fuentes emphasized.
Especially with paintings reflecting nature and humanity, the Ambassador affirmed that wherever people are, they share the burning aspirations for freedom, independence, and the desire to jointly create a prosperous world. For him, each painting here is not just colors and lines but an affirmation of the best values humanity is striving towards.
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| The artworks reflect Dao Thanh Chung's aspiration to implement “two-way cultural diplomacy”. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
