The art exhibition is called “Maya” by Pakistani artist Massoma Syed. It is a part of a series of events organized to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan's Independence Day and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Pakistan.

The exhibition was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Pakistan relations.

The event was co-organized by the University of Industrial Fine Arts in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan in Vietnam.

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam-Pakistan Friendship Parliamentary Group; Mr. Pham Hung Cuong, Rector of the University of Industrial Fine Arts; Mr. Vu Van Minh Deputy Director General of the Department of Southeast Asia, South Asia and South Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; along with lecturers and students of the university.

Also, the exhibition welcomed the presence of various ambassadors and delegates from foreign representative agencies in Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Pham Hung Cuong, Rector of the University of Industrial Fine Arts emphasized that the exhibition of the artworks of artist Massoma Syed and her speech about Pakistan’s contemporary art is meaningful. It is also an opportunity for Vietnamese and international friends to understand more about the beautiful country and its people, the cultural and artistic interference between Pakistan and Vietnam, along with the world’s contemporary art flow.

For her part, Pakistani Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Mehtab stressed that the 50-year friendship between the two countries has been a story of cordiality, amity, and cooperation. Throughout these years, both countries have collaborated in all spheres, including political, economic and people-to-people exchange.

She believed that as a result of the initiatives in the inter-alia political, economic and tourism, the bilateral relationship will strengthen evermore.

“Collaboration in arts and culture is the soul of any bilateral relationship and no bilateral relationship can thrive unless the people of the two countries appreciate each other’s arts”, Ambassador Mehtab said.

Sharing her works, artist Massoma Syed said that in today’s highly polarized world, art, literature, music and all forms of cultural interaction are the most quintessential needs of the time, and a beautiful way to find out about each other, and connect through humanity and compassion while celebrating diversity.

Ms. Syed’s art practice involves processes of making, crafting, and rituals in the form of hand constructions, objects, conceptual jewelry, installations, and paintings. Her works revolve around the delusional nature of reality, fiction, multiple narratives around the complexity of human life, and her personal history as a woman and also in the transnational and transcultural context of South Asia.

Notably, she chooses strange but exceptional materials to conceptualize her works. It ranges from wastes to human nails and hair.

Photos of the exhibition:

Pakistani Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Mehtab. (Photo: WVR)

Ms. Massoma Syed shared her works. (Photo: WVR)