Visitors to the Art in the Forest exhibition in Vinh Phuc Province can enjoy unique creations by Vietnamese and international artists in the heart of a pine forest. 

Art in the Forest 2019 (AIF 2019) is held at Flamingo Dai Lai Resort, about 45 km from Hanoi, in Phuc Yen District, from October 26 till October 15, 2020. This year’s theme is "International Lacquer and Sculpture."

The exhibition is housed in containers, complete with lighting, air-conditioning and glass doors.

Set against the natural backdrop of a pine forest by Dai Lai Lake, 68 artworks on display were created by ten painters and seven sculptors from Vietnam and other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Spain, Canada, France and the U.S.

American artist Sha Sha Higby poses in the artwork she created.

"The body is made up of numerous theaters. Each movement creates thousands of exciting narratives," she said.

The artist said she used materials such as paper, wood, and paint combined with dance techniques to create this moving artwork, shipped all the way from the U.S.

One of 12 artworks in the Song collection by artist Le Thua Tien made from lacquer, ceramics and glass.

The artist was inspired by the image of the eight trigrams (Bagua or Pa Kua) and the word Tho (meaning longevity) commonly found in ancient architecture as a symbol to enhance the energy of the home and protect its residents.

Tai hien ky uc (Eternal Return), a visualization of modern society via an image of tangled twigs, by South Korean painter Jang Jin-su.

Thanh am cua dat (Sound of the Earth) by Japanese sculptor Mukai Katsumi. The artwork weighs 2.5 tons and was completed over two months.

French sculptor Ariel Moscovici stands next to his artwork The Space Between II made of stainless steel and weighing 12 tons.

"The idea of the work originates from the beginning or the origin, before all things appear, like the word Bereshit that means 'starting' according to the Torah. God created the world before other matters existed," he said.

The exhibition also includes seating areas where visitors could stop for a drink and observe the pine forest.

Art in the Forest was first held in 2015, when it was voted one of the top five national arts events by the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism.

The pine forest near Dai Lai Lake is a destination of choice for weekend getaways near capital city Hanoi.