Highland artefacts show styles of different areas
Update: Feb 09, 2010
HCMC Fine Arts Museum has opened a new exhibition of artefacts from Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands).

The exhibition, which opened on February 5, showcases more than 190 antique objects made of wood, ceramic, terra cotta, elephant leather and bronze made by ethnic groups of the Central Highlands.

Artefacts from different areas can be distinguished by the unique styles that have been handed down for generations. About 120 of them are on loan from Trung Nguyen Coffee Corporation's giant collection and another 70 selected from the museum's collection.

There are at least eleven categories of objects that were used in daily home and farm life plus musical instruments used in festivals and worshiping.

Gongs, jars, Kpan table and many other objects the central highlanders used to symbolize health and power are also on display.

Many of the artefacts were donated by artists from Tay Nguyen or cultural scholars.

The exhibition features a dozen wooden funeral statues, which were used for decorating graves in Central Highlands, and a painting collection with 30 works by Artist Xu Man, a famous Tay Nguyen artist.

The museum bought the collection from the artist in 1987 for 20 taels of gold.

Gongs, elephant leather drums, jars, crossbows, papooses and costumes are also on display at HCMC Fine Arts Museum at 97A Pho Duc Chinh, District 1, HCMC through March 5.
VNS