On the occasion of commemorating the 98th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press (1925-2023), the Vietnam Fine Arts Association inaugurated the exhibition “Illustration Art of Vietnamese Press and Publishing 2023” on June 17th. At the exhibition, Master – Artist Nguyen Minh Kien, Lecturer at the Department of Fine Arts and Design, CMC University, had the honor of receiving the “Illustration Art of Vietnamese Press and Publishing 2023” award presented by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Held at the Exhibition House 16 Ngô Quyền, Hanoi, the exhibition “Illustration Art of Vietnamese Press and Publishing 2023” introduced to the public over 1,000 outstanding illustration works by 55 artists from the journalism and publishing sector nationwide.

With outstanding artworks and years of dedicated contribution to the field of Illustration for the Press and Publishing in Vietnam, Master – Artist Nguyen Minh Kien, Lecturer at the Faculty of Arts and Design, CMC University, was honored to receive the “Illustration Art of Vietnamese Press and Publishing 2023” award presented by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Engaged in the art of illustration from a very young age, with works featured in various media publications, to date, Artist Nguyen Minh Kien has created numerous illustrations for the Education Publishing House, particularly in the field of historical comic books.

Speaking about the feelings upon receiving this prestigious award, the lecturer at CMC University shared, “The illustration art exhibition has been organized twice before, and this is the third time and also my first time participating with more than 50 illustrators in Vietnam. This award is like an encouragement for me to continue my dedication to the art of illustration.”

The special feature of the “Illustration Art of Vietnamese Press and Publishing 2023” exhibition is the gathering of artists from three regions – experts in illustrating press and publishing. Each author brings a different style and expressive language to the artworks.

Commenting on the role of illustration art in the development of journalism, Artist Nguyen Minh Kien stated, “Illustration in journalism and publishing is an integral part of the media field, helping readers better understand the content and messages being conveyed, stimulating and elucidating the content. Illustration art has a long history, closely associated with the publishing and printing industry. In developed countries, illustration has become a part of the publishing industry, such as manga in Japan, Korea, and Western countries.”

According to him, along with the development of information technology, all fields are undergoing changes, including illustration art facing new opportunities and challenges. Illustration art is now shifting towards online platforms, requiring a faster drawing and processing speed to adapt to various multimedia communication formats.

“Nearly 20 years ago, I used to work at a Korean comic illustration company in Vietnam with a very industrialized process. However, currently, there is no university in Vietnam that trains illustration. Most illustrators have to research and perfect their skills on their own. Perhaps, that is also a reason why the publishing industry in Vietnam still lacks publications that can be exported like those in Japan or Korea.”

“To help students better understand the illustration creation process, the Graphic Design program at CMC University offers courses in this field. Students familiarize themselves with digital illustration through electronic drawing devices, utilizing technology to create art during their training to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving multimedia communication, especially in the digital platform,” shared Illustrator Nguyen Minh Kien.

“In addition to the art exhibition, the event also featured a panel discussion with the theme ‘Journalistic Illustration Art.’ This was an opportunity for connection and exchange between the editorial boards of major newspapers and the leadership of publishing houses with numerous publications utilizing illustration. It aimed to facilitate the exchange of professional stories and the artistic journey of illustration alongside the Vietnamese press over the years.

The panel discussion brought forth unique stories and experiences, providing valuable insights for editorial boards of journalism and publishing. It aimed to enhance their understanding of the role of illustration art in journalism, fostering a shared vision for a resilient and steadfast future in the digital age of journalistic illustration art.

In 2023, CMC University is admitting students for the Graphic Design bachelor’s program with application acceptance scores starting from 22.5 based on the high school transcript evaluation method. The Graphic Design program at CMC University equips students with a solid foundation of knowledge, covering basic art principles, design methodologies, application techniques, and the utilization of technology in graphic design. The curriculum also addresses global trends in graphic design applications. Additionally, students receive training in hand-drawing skills and digital painting techniques.

Early submission of application documents increases the chances of receiving a 100% tuition fee scholarship for the entire course from the ‘CMC – Because You Deserve It’ Scholarship Fund, with a total value of 92 billion VND, at the website: //xettuyen.spa-g.com/.