Ideas for Speaking

ARTS
PART 2
Describe a painting or a work of art.

Model answer:

Works of art can be a rare sight here in HCM City, but I guess I was lucky when I had a chance to
visit an exhibition by the University of Architecture. Objects on display were artworks by graduate
students, and I was particularly impressed by a piece named something like technology & us.

It was quite an unconventional piece, actually. Its not a picture, but rather, abstract models of
the modern people made from plastics, in various postures like sitting on benches, walking,
standing, lying Each of them was holding a high-tech device stuff like tablet, smartphone,
laptop But whats special was that their heads were lengthened & shaped like a cone, the bigger
end attached to the devices themselves, giving them a sort of mystical, alien-like look.

But apart from that, I guess the author did mean something when he glued the heads to the devices:
it seems like today weve grown so attached to our mobiles & computers. They play such a big
part in our lives that all our attention or all the cones ends, by the authors illustration is stuck
onto the screen. It might be good warnings for all those kids sitting on their phones for hours on
end; thats how ugly they appear in other peoples eyes.

So yeah, I kinda like that piece. Its not like some absurd abstract sketches that nobody
understands; its got a message to tell, something that we can all relate to. Plus, its got a sci-fi
vibe to it, which is my favorite! Its definitely worth seeing, in my opinion.

PART 3
1. What are the most popular types of art in Vietnam?

- Traditional Vietnamese paintings:

o Depict/portray/describe traditional life in Vietnam. E.g.:

Paintings of wrestling,

Paintings of young woman with Lily, or

Still paintings of Vietnamese countryside

Have a very strong Vietnamese feel/vibe to them | feel like home | very Vietnamese.

o However, are (at risk of) fading out/dying out, due to lack of interest from the
youth/because theyre not favoured/well-liked among the youth.
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- Hand-drawn portraits:

o Commonly seen/found along the pavements of public venues (Notre-Dame Cathedral,

Book Street): artists sit on the pavements & will draw a portrait of a passer-by (for a
price, say, 100k).

o One of the most accessible/affordable artworks for the average person.

- Sculptures.

o Statues of important/historical figures at schools, museums, religious saints/gods at

pagodas & museums

o Mostly made by craft villages & handed down from older generations; however, some
independent artists are producing/making their own sculptures/works.

- (Might be considered art) Interior design.

o Has always been present/there in every home its the patterns on walls & doors,
arrangements of ornaments/decorations in the house

o Has changed drastically in recent decades more modern/futuristic/sophisticated design,

use of composite & alternative materials

- Textile/clothings & crafts (from ethnic minorities).

o Sold mainly as souvenirs or decorations; expensive/pricey indeed, but is so

fascinating/charming/beautiful to domestic/VNese, or even foreign tourists.

o One of the main (cultural) attractions/appeals/values of remote regions.

- Artistic photography.

o Has been around/pursued for very long, now with revived/renewed interest from the youth.

o Along with trends/fads in hobby such as backpacking, DSLR camera becoming more
affordable, young people are inspired by the beauty of nature & want to capture the
breathtaking/impressive scenery.

o The hobby is catching on/getting popular/taking off fast.

2. Do young people and older people have the same tastes in art?

Yes, more or less | to some extent | in some ways | there are some similiarities:

- Its hard to find domains/sub-fields/areas in arts that only have/are exclusive to only an
older, or younger audience.
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o In the same way, all areas in arts have followers/enthusiasts/hobbyists at all ages theres
no old mens arts or youths arts.

- Its not really a matter of age, its more about upbringing, education & background:

o If kids were exposed to/engaged in arts, they would learn to love it & have/develop healthy
tastes/preferences. And they stay that way even as they grow older.

o On the other hand, an upbringing with little concern for/attention to arts will make/leave
you ignorant/clueless/helpless when it comes to appreciating works of arts. And similarly,
they keep that attitude/wont likely change later in life.

No:

Young people Older people/generation

Some art forms are more popular to one age group than another.

- Eg: the young may be more attracted to cool, impressive & unusual/exotic works, but not those
boring/plain, all-too-common still paintings with Chinese characters those are for older audience.

More open attitude/views | are more open-minded Are more conservative, more critical of & more
in arts. likely to frown upon/disapprove of new trends.

- Have more access to the media & more willing to - Tend to label them/think of them as childish
learn have diverse taste in arts, both traditional attempts at being famous, nonsense/meaningless,
& contemporary. or even garbage.

- Might be more amused at/interested in - (To a lesser extent) will ignore them & are not at
experimental & innovative arts (eg: those made all interested/attracted.
from composite materials, fiber or by exploding
firework with tips filled with paint)

- (In the professional world) Most daring/daredevil - Many are used to/stuck at traditional way/methods
breakthroughs/attempts are from young artists, of paintings (eg: oil, acrylic, lacquer, water-
often not older, more established figures/ones. color), layouts or perspectives Theres not
much changes.

Some more traditional, local forms of arts (sculpture, painting) are at risk of dying out/losing
popularity, giving way to newer, more innovative art forms (eg: grafiti, models from alternative
material, 3D painting on flat sheets).

The young take up/adopt these trends more The ones who stay/remain loyal to traditions are
quickly/willingly. usually/more often the older generation.
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3. What is the value of art for society and individuals?

- Art is a healthy, popular hobby/form of entertainment.

o Helps you to relieve/release stress | unwind | ease up/off | loosen up after hard work.

o Its not like some addictive video games that keep players stuck in a stuffy/confined room
- painting & crafting does no harm & can be beneficial/helpful as well.

Art trains/teaches us to: be careful/meticulous/pay attention to details, be patient,

willing to put in/make effort | be conscientious to produce/create the best works we
can

Any careless/reckless/wrong move/action can ruin the whole work & cannot be
undone/reversed.

Plus, its a good way to impress the girls painting looks artistic & cool.

- It serves as an outlet for creativity/inspiration/imagination, a place where people can

express/be themselves.

o (Just like music & literature), the author has something to say/conveys some message
through his pieces/works.

Eg: heartbroken from a recent break-up? Paint about love (or betrayal)!
OR Speechless in front of the mighty/impressive natural beauty? Shoot the best photo
with your DSLR Camera!

o Each artist has his own unique style, approach, habits, even strengths &
flaws/weaknesses

Art is a way to stand out from the crowd | make yourself special/distinguish yourself
from others | give you a dinstinct identity, unlike no one else.

Without it, Van Gogh or Picasso would be a nobody/an unknown man, as with all other
artists.

- Its part of our culture, part of our identity/who we are.

o VNese art is different from Chinese art, from Japanese, or from French No 2 countries
arts are the same Makes the world culture diverse (with different tastes & styles) &
makes us different from others.

o Art depicts/shows life in a particular region much (information) about the culture is
kept/embedded/portrayed in those works (eg: how they live, work; their beliefs & opinions
on love, society, relationships)
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o It would be scary/weird/creepy if all countries are alike | not any different from each other.

4. Are there many art exhibitions in your country? Do young people go to these?

- (1st question) Yes, therere numerous/several/quite a lot of them:

o They are hosted/take place occasionally/from time to time, at public places/venues (eg:
Book Street) or at dedicated exhibition houses & museums.

o Advertisements/announcements show up here & there on Facebook newsfeed.

o Could be graduation projects by art students, exhibitions on a specific topic/theme, or used

for fund-raising for charity

Everything/the whole thing is pretty vibrant/exciting/active.

- No, therere not many of them/maybe not/looks like not:

o I havent heard much about them || theres not much talk/chatter/news about them, as far
I know/can tell || the last time I heard about one was 1/2/3/a few months ago.

o Maybe therere more of them that I didnt know of, but its not very likely | still, I dont
think therere THAT many of them.

- (2nd question) Yes, theyre quite popular with some of us:

o [More specific] You can see a large part of the visitors are younger art students,
enthusiasts/hobbyists, or even some random curious folks/dudes

o Their posts on facebook attract lots of comments from the youth.

o [Personal] I heard quite a lot from my friends & have received a few invitations to some
exhibitions/events.

- No, not really/probably not/not too many of us go there:

o Exhibition visitors are mostly older, more mature adults younger patrons/visitors are not
as common/quite rare | therere only handfuls of us.

o Most younger people would prefer cafs or theatres to exhibitions/expositions/events like

these.

5. Can you suggest some ways to encourage young people to go to art exhibitions?

- Cater their contents to the pop/popular audience.

o Most people are amateurs/newbies/beginners in art if you give them sth too
advanced/sophisticated/difficult, theyll get bored/fed up.

Avoid paintings/works that are too abstract & obscure/hard to understand.

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- Give some brief description & possible interpretations below the work displayed.

o Most young people get frustrated/discouraged when they cant make sense of/get/
understand the authors intentions/ideas lose interest & are easily put off.

Listing some ways to interpret acts/serves as a guide/tutorial to

enjoying/appreciating the pieces.

o Most descriptions should be straightforward/easy to understand for the general public &
not include/cram in/pack in too much technical information.

The majority of the young are not avid/devoted/hardcore fans spare them/dont give
them all the technical/insiders details.

They could, however, benefit from/use some fun facts.

- Exhibitions need more publicity/marketing/to be advertised more to younger audience.

o (Currently/at present), art events have very little media coverage/are rarely seen on the
media channels; young people barely know/are totally unaware of exhibitions near them.

o Music has been brought to the public well with a dedicated website (mp3.zing.vn),
national billboard & famous/public figures. Why cant the same be done with art?

More aggressive/active advertising & promotion, especially on TV & social media.

A public figure/representative that can win the youngs hearts | is very popular/hot among
younger people.

6. Do you think its possible for everyone to become an artist?

Yes:

- With enough effort & patience, anyone can be an artist.

o Creativity aside, art is just another subject/skill with knowledge & sub-skills/techniques
(layout, perspective, tone/colour gamut, effects)

It can be learnt with a proper/systematic/good approach, good teacher & some time and
effort/sweat (just like science, maths, literature)

o Even for people that arent creative/dont have much original thought/inspiration, they can
still get decent/be pretty good/be at a solid artist IF they follow the rules, work hard & are
careful.

Their paintings may not look original/creative/unique, but theyll be

nice/acceptable/up to standards.

No:
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- Art is partly a gift/innate ability that cant be easily taught.

o Sure, separate skills & techniques can be learnt & practiced, but one thing is missing/hard
to teach: creativity.

You cant show sb how to be creative; theres no scientific method/principle of

being creative

o If a person lacks creativity, they may have to accept/make do with it.

- Art can be difficult/daunting to learn, and many dont have the patience/determination &
give up/abandon it too soon.

o (Just like music & literature) In the beginning, your painting is horrible/awful/
terrible | looks nothing like those of famous artists.

o As you go further, it gets more & more difficult/challenging; progress becomes slower.
Eventually you reach a block/get stuck (eg: a technique you cant master/pull off). Most
people cant get past/overcome this.

- People have different talents/good at different things (eg: some are excellent with/have a
flair for numbers/figures, others can remember/memorize facts well)

o Not everyone is cut out for/suitable to be an artist. For some, mastering art can be so
difficult/takes so much time that (practically) its not worth it.

o Instead, lets be practical, have/set reasonable goals/expectations & not waste time into sth
you cant succeed at.