With the purposes of raising the awareness of people about environmental issues as well as preparing for reaction policies, reducing the risk of climate change, in the afternoon of 28th September, 2015, under the consent of Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism (MoCST), the National Library of Vietnam coordinated with the Embassy of Sweden, Swedish Institute, Manzi Art Gallery to solemnly hosting the grand opening of Gallery Exhibition “Facing the climate change”.
Attending the grand opening, to the MoCST, we are honor to have Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh – the International Cooperation Department Director, Mr. Phung Minh Cuong – Permanent Deputy Secretary of Ministry Party Committee, Mr. Nguyen Huu Gioi – Chairman of Trade Union, Mr. Ngo Hoai Chung – Deputy Director General of VNAT, Mrs. Vu Duong Thuy Nga – Deputy Director General in charge of Department of Libraries; on the side of co-organized agencies, we are honor to have Mrs. Camilla Mellander – Ambassador of Swedish Embassy in Vietnam, Mrs. Vu Ngoc Tram – representative of Manzi Art Gallery; Ambassadors, diplomatic officials representing Embassies of Colombia, Palestine, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Morocco,…; Vietnamese and Swedish artists; Leaders’ representatives from agencies under the Ministry of Culutre, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Union of Friendship Organizations in Vietnam and Hanoi City, international organizations, Vietnam libraries , the public and readers.
The exhibition displays 27 paintings, which are the works of 5 Vietnamese cartoonists and 5 Swedish cartoonists, reflecting the phenomena of increasingly changing climate across the globe including Vietnam. The works’ theme elements are not only amusing but also no less incisive, interesting and convey a clear message: The future of the world depends on the awareness, way of thinking and action of each individual. How climate change does affect our lives and what we could do to minimize and prevent it.
“Facing the climate change” is a part of the campaign deployed by Swedish Institute in order to promote sustainable development, titled “Facing the Future – Sustainable in Swedish style”. Speaking at the opening, Mrs. Camilla Mellander – Ambassador of Swedish Embassy in Vietnam emphasizes “On the international level, Sweden is known as a country that pays great attention to environmental issues and sustainable development. Acknowledging the issue seriously, however, does not mean looking it through the prism of humor. When dealing with climate change, satire and humor are mingled together by a novel vision and a more responsible attitude towards this issue. Every citizen on the planet is required to share the responsibility to preserve and protect our common home, the one and only home, it is the Earth”.
Cartoonists’ representatives whose works are displayed at the exhibition, the famous Swedish artists Magnus Bard who achieved a number of noble awards in the field of graphic design said: The artists wished to convey to the public and readers hidden stories such as climate change, global warming and make them become more interesting.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, Mrs. Kieu Thuy Nga – Director of the National Library of Vietnam would like to thank to Embassy of Sweden, Swedish Institute, Manzi Art Gallery for bringing to Vietnamese public and readers a novel and positive perspective, awareness, and actions to the environment by jointly opening this significant exhibition.
The exhibition opens from 28th September, 2015 to 2nd October, 2015 at the National Library of Vietnam, 31 Trang Thi, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi.
Pictures of the grand opening:
Overview of the grand opening
Mrs. Kieu Thuy Nga – Director of the National Library of Vietnam delivering her speech to opening the Exhibition
Mrs. Camilla Mellander, Ambassador of Swedish Embassy in Vietnam delivering her speech at the exhibition
Swedish cartoonist Magnus Bard delivering his speech at the exhibition
Mrs. Camilla Mellander, Ambassador of Swedish Embassy in Vietnam giving presents to representatives and cartoonists
Delegates, public and readers visiting the Exhibition:
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News: Dang Dung; Pictures: Hung Manh, Hai Dang