Le Huu Hieu is one of the artists who participated in many international art exhibitions. In 2024, he became known for the contemporary art exhibition "From Bach Dang victory to the great victory of April 30, 1975" at Nguyen Hue walking street on the occasion of the anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day, with very large statues.
From October 17, Le Huu Hieu was invited by the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations and the Japan Federation of UNESCO Associations to attend the International Conference "Cultural Industry - Strategic Driving Force in Sustainable Development" in Tokyo and the 81st Anniversary of the Founding of the Japan Federation of UNESCO Associations in Kanazawa.
The title "Pioneering Artist on the UNESCO Heritage Journey 2025" honoring Le Huu Hieu is not only a recognition of the talent and dedication of a Vietnamese artist, but also a symbol of the spirit of preserving and developing national culture through the language of contemporary art.
Le Huu Hieu is a special artist. He "plays" with art with everything he has and in every work and exhibition, it is like "burning" one last time.
Born into a family with a revolutionary tradition, Le Huu Hieu always puts himself in the emotions of understanding and gratitude for the sacrifices of previous generations. His uncle was a martyr, his parents were both war invalids, and he himself carries the legacy of war. Family tradition has helped him bring his love for the country and gratitude into art in his own way.
From a boy who loved drawing on the ground, he stepped out into the world with a tireless creative journey and participated in a series of international exhibitions: Florence Biennale 2017 (Italy), solo exhibition "Soul Energy" in Italy (2021)... But no matter how far he goes, the Vietnamese cultural roots are still the underlying thread that guides his creations.
The exhibition - installation "From Bach Dang victory to the great victory of April 30, 1975" was prepared by him for two years, but the idea had been brewing for decades. The exhibition was not only a resounding success, attracting millions of viewers, but also appeared in all domestic and international newspapers and media.
Not only passionate about historical, war, and revolutionary themes, artist Le Huu Hieu is also fascinated with traditional Vietnamese materials. Materials that are very familiar to Vietnamese people's lives such as jackfruit wood, rope, coconut fiber, jute, and silk are used by him very skillfully and creatively. Jackfruit wood soaked in mud and painted shiny black becomes a symbol of the hidden strength and resilience of the nation.
In the context of contemporary art, where large sculpture is often limited to fixed monuments or reliefs, Le Huu Hieu's effort to bring large-scale installation sculptures to outdoor spaces is an admirable effort.
For those reasons, the title "Pioneering Artist on the UNESCO Heritage Journey 2025" is not only a personal joy for Le Huu Hieu but also a common pride of Vietnamese art.
According to the Organizing Committee, honoring Le Huu Hieu also contributes to implementing the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage and the Global Strategy for Creative Industries – affirming the role of artists as “fire keepers” of Vietnam’s cultural heritage.
This is a title to honor individual artists and cultural and artistic practitioners who have made outstanding contributions to preserving, promoting and spreading cultural values, while also recognizing the social mission of art: nurturing community memory, preserving identity, and promoting creativity associated with heritage. The award encourages artists to connect with the community, participate in educating the younger generation and promote Vietnamese culture to the world...
The Organizing Committee affirmed that the honoring of the title "Pioneer Artist on the UNESCO Heritage Journey 2025" to Le Huu Hieu affirms the role of artists as "fire keepers" in preserving intangible cultural values; contributing to the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage and the UNESCO Global Strategy on Creative Industries as well as motivating artists to create sustainably, connect society, and strengthen Vietnam's cultural soft power.
Speaking at the event, artist Le Huu Hieu said: “For me, the best way to preserve culture is to develop it. As a visual artist, preserving and developing cultural ideas is even more convenient. Nearly 20 years of deep research into archaeology, cultural characteristics according to history and region, combined with plastic research, has brought me so much; thanks to that, my work has made great strides. The more data I have about the culture and history of the country, the better the quality of my works. It is like the roots of a tree: when it meets water, it reaches out; when there is enough water and nutrients, the flowers bloom. The art I pursue is that natural: the roots find water, the flowers bloom when the time comes.”
For Le Huu Hieu, practicing artworks based on traditional values is also a way to explore the great cultural heritage treasures left by previous generations: “In recent years, I have seen many people—from artists, artisans to culture lovers—making efforts to elevate and promote those values.
As an artist, I am aware that I must work seriously and scientifically, so that from my knowledge and practical experience I can create specific marks. As I said about the nature of flowers, the process of research and disciplined work also leads me to interesting discoveries, opening the way to tell cultural and historical stories closer to the audience. I hope that after the 50th anniversary of the exhibition, there will be larger and more elaborate exhibitions, continuing the journey to elevate Vietnam's cultural heritage."
Le Huu Hieu was born in 1982 in Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh, currently living and working in Hanoi.
He had a solo exhibition "Mac" in 2014 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum; in 2015, the National Fine Arts Exhibition at the National Exhibition Center; in 2016, he participated in Spectrum - Miami Art Fair 2016 with the Contemporary Art Projects USA exhibition; in 2017, the Trio Exhibition at the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts; in 2017, he participated in the 11th Florence Biennale at Fortezza da Basso - Florence, Italy; solo exhibition "Soul Energy" in 2021 in Italy.
Most recently, on April 19, 2025, the exhibition - installation "From Bach Dang victory to the great victory of April 30, 1975" opened at Nguyen Hue walking street (Ho Chi Minh City).
Source: https://nhandan.vn/nghe-si-le-huu-hieu-duoc-lien-hiep-cac-hoi-unesco-nhat-ban-vinh-danh-post916382.html
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