Exhibition 'Cuba-Latin America through paintings': When art accompanies cultural diplomacy
WVR - On the afternoon of December 17, in Hanoi, the art exhibition "Cuba-Latin America through Paintings: A Journey to Discover Cultural Identity" took place, organized in collaboration with the Department of International Cooperation - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, the Fine Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Promotion Committee, and the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem Ward.
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The event was attended by Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, former President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes; Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama; Mr. Tran Nhat Hoang, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms. Dao Thi Lien Huong, Head of the Fine Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Promotion Committee; collector Dao Thanh Chung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Venezuela; along with representatives of diplomatic missions and press agencies.
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| Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes expressed his joy and honour in inaugurating today's meaningful exhibition. The Ambassador emphasized that on December 2, 1960, when Vietnam officially established diplomatic relations with Cuba, the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean, Vietnam initiated relations with a region with which it would later have ties with all countries.
"Between Cuba and Vietnam, a deep cultural exchange relationship has formed, starting from the first Vietnamese students who went to Cuba to study in various fields of knowledge from the early 1960s," he shared.
According to the Ambassador, many prominent artists in fields such as music, dance, film, theater, and visual arts have contributed to strengthening this exemplary friendship.
The Ambassador also shared that, along with the victory of the Cuban Revolution, the fine arts experienced a period of strong development and transformation. As part of a cultural policy to promote the creative access and enjoyment of art for all people, Cuban diplomatic missions worldwide currently hold many works by the most renowned artists and painters who have absorbed and reinterpreted international art trends while adapting them to Cuba's realities.
"The works here are not just images but mirrors reflecting the process of seeking and affirming the unique identity characteristic of a vibrant region," expressed Ambassador Fuentes.
Additionally, the Ambassador emphasized that organizing the exhibition in Hanoi – the city for peace – is a message of peace, independence, and freedom to the world.
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| Ms. Dao Thi Lien Huong, Head of the Fine Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Promotion Committee in Vietnam. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
For her part, Ms. Dao Thi Lien Huong, Head of the Fine Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Promotion Committee in Vietnam, shared that the Committee was established in 2017 with individuals interested in Vietnamese fine arts and eager to bring national art to the world.
"Recently, we have donated paintings to 34 Vietnamese embassies abroad, hoping to bring the 'Vietnamese soul' to the representative offices of Vietnam in countries worldwide," she stated.
In this exhibition, according to Ms. Dao Thi Lien Huong, it can be said that this is the first time the Committee has organized an event with a "reverse" nature, meaning bringing foreign culture into Vietnam.
Through this, the Head of the Fine Arts and Cultural Diplomacy Promotion Committee hopes to continue receiving cooperation from foreign embassies in Vietnam to bring the cultures of various countries closer to the domestic public.
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| Collector Dao Thanh Chung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela, answers an interview with World and Vietnam Report. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
In an interview with World and Vietnam Report about the inspiration for participating in organizing the exhibition and collecting paintings, collector Dao Thanh Chung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela, shared that during his tenure, besides political and economic diplomacy, he paid much attention to cultural diplomacy activities.
He observed that Latin America has a highly developed painting scene with well-trained artists, many of whom studied in Europe before returning to develop their unique styles, deeply reflecting the region's cultural identity. Although he does not consider himself a collector, the Ambassador expressed pride in being trusted by many friends who have entrusted him with famous works from Cuba, Venezuela, and other Latin American countries.
With the motto "cultural diplomacy is both bringing Vietnamese culture abroad and bringing foreign culture to Vietnam," he and Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes conceived the idea of organizing the exhibition. Through this, they aim to introduce the vibrant and distinctive painting scene of Cuba and Latin America to the Vietnamese public.
Through the exhibition, Mr. Dao Thanh Chung hopes the Vietnamese public will gain a deeper understanding of Latin American culture, especially painting, while enhancing solidarity and mutual understanding between Vietnam and Cuba as well as other countries in the region.
Some images from the exhibition:
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| The exhibition "Cuba-Latin America through Paintings: A Journey to Discover Cultural Identity" runs from December 17, 2025, to January 4, 2026, showcasing over 50 artworks from 29 renowned artists from Cuba and Latin American countries. The first group of works includes paintings held by the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, featuring pieces that are part of Cuba's national cultural heritage, created by the Caribbean nation's famous artists. The second group is the personal collection of Mr. Dao Thanh Chung, comprising works by various Latin American artists. |
