Vietnam old artist forced to destroy ‘violence-provoking’ statues

By Giang Phuong amd Ha Dinh Nguyen, Thanh Nien News

An elderly citizen in the southeastern province of Tay Ninh was asked to demolish statues in his garden after local authorities accused the art works of “provoking violence.”

Pham Chung, 73, sits in his garden in Tay Ninh Province. The garden has recently attracted attention for its statues depicting human faces suffering.

Pham Chung, 73, of Ho Chi Minh City, bought the 1,000-square-meter land plot in Tay Ninh 11 years ago and then turned it into a garden of his own to worship his departed mother.

He built two concrete fake graves and many statues, mostly depicting human faces, in the fenceless garden, which is located at a much-traveled crossroads in Long Hai Hamlet, Truong Tay Commune, Hoa Thanh District.

The garden has been there for years but it wasn’t until last month that local residents reported to local authorities that they felt “terrified” each time they passed the garden, because it looked like scene from a horror movie, they said.

On Monday (September 30), representatives from Tay Ninh’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hoa Thanh District People’s Committee inspected the garden.

Authorities then asked Chung to demolish some statues they said could provoke violence because they depict strange and bloody (painted red) human faces with strained expressions on their faces. One head has a knife stabbed through it.

According to authorities, the recommendation was made based on a government decree that bans public activities that provoke violence, superstition and debauchery.

They said Chung did not erect fences around his garden; therefore his art works were seen by the public and he must be responsible for them.

Read the full story by Giang Phuong amd Ha Dinh Nguyen from Thanh Nien News.