Held from August 6 to 15, 2026, at the Provincial Convention Center in Quy Nhon Ward, the exhibition features 257 works by 217 artists from provinces and cities across the region. Gia Lai is represented by 72 works from 57 artists.
Sculptor Le Trong Nghia won the A Prize for Blooming Within Structure, while painters Nguyen Van Chung and Ho Thi Xuan Thu each received a C Prize for Immutable and Gossiping Under the Moonlight, respectively.
Painter Tran Tuan, Head of the Gia Lai Chapter of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, said Gia Lai contributed more works than any other province or city in the region and secured the exhibition’s top awards.
The results highlighted Gia Lai artists’ contribution to the regional fine arts scene, with many works demonstrating careful development of both concept and material as well as innovative approaches to artistic expression.
Jointly organized by the Provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, the exhibition brings together works spanning a broad range of themes, including history, culture, nature, people, contemporary life and the country’s development.
Artists employed diverse materials and techniques, including oil paint, lacquer, silk, acrylic, terracotta, watercolor, woodcut, welded iron and mixed media.
Nguyen Trung Tin, Vice President of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association in charge of the South, Chairman of the Art Council and Deputy Head of the exhibition’s organizing committee, said the works were relatively consistent in quality and offered perspectives closely connected to the rhythms of everyday life.
The number of participating artists and works also reflected the dedication, enthusiasm and creativity of the region’s artistic community.
At the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich described Gia Lai’s selection by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association to host the 30th exhibition as an honor and an opportunity to showcase a dynamic province built on distinctive cultural values developed over generations.
She said the exhibition also contributes to National Tourism Year 2026 while promoting cultural exchange and cooperation among localities.
The event has drawn not only participating painters and sculptors but also members of the public. Phan Nu Tu Nghi, a literature teacher at Trung Vuong High School in Quy Nhon Ward, said she was particularly impressed by the variety of materials and artistic approaches, with the works demonstrating the artists’ commitment and creativity.
Months of work behind award-winning sculptur
Behind the exhibition’s works are lengthy processes of experimentation, artistic exploration and efforts to convey individual messages.
Le Trong Nghia, Head of the Fine Arts Chapter of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, spent several months experimenting with iron and wood and refining individual details to complete his A Prize-winning sculpture, Blooming Within Structure.
Nghia said the work seeks to evoke movement, vitality and creativity while drawing parallels with structures found in families, society and human relationships.
Rather than being confined, the structures depicted in the work are elevated and interact with one another, coexisting to generate new energy. Nghia said the works presented at the exhibition demonstrated the dedication and creativity of each participating artist.
Capturing the cultural life of the Central Highlands
For his woodcut Echoes of the Great Forest, Nguyen Viet Xuan, a member of the Gia Lai Fine Arts Chapter, drew inspiration from a field trip to To Tung commune.
The work depicts Bana people performing gong music and xoang dance beside a communal house, recreating an image that left a lasting impression on the artist during the trip.
Xuan spent about three months researching, developing the concept and completing the work. He said exhibitions provide opportunities to learn from fellow artists, explore new forms of artistic expression and exchange professional experience.
With Gia Lai artists contributing the exhibition’s largest body of works and securing three of its nine awards, their presence at the 30th regional exhibition underscored the province’s role in the artistic landscape of the South Central and Central Highlands region.
