Online art auction raises $44,000 for HCMC Covid field hospital

The online auction was held over the course of a three-day weekend, when organizers sold 47 paintings in the first two sessions and 28 more Sunday.

Ly Doi, a representative of the organizing committee, said organizers only expected to raise about VND90-100 million. But after a few days, they were surprised when 80 artists and collectors donated more than 90 artwork to the campaign. People bought the paintings by bidding beneath each work.

"Many artist not only gave up paintings but also sent us picture frames and paid postage," Doi said.

The auction includes the works of many famed artists like Huong Duong, Luu Cong Nhan, Le Trieu Dien, Thanh Chuong and others.

According to the organizers, in order to collect money to contribute to the hospital, many paintings were sold at reasonable prices, which do not truly reflect their market value.

The organizers used the auction money to buy 20 resuscitation beds, two ventilators, and 10 wheelchairs for a field hospital in District 5. After delivering the sold paintings, the remaining money would be used for scholarships for poor students and Covid-19 patients.

Recently, a number of online art exhibitions have been held to raise funds for Covid-19 affected families.

At the end of June, Bui Fine Arts Center held an online auction of more than 20 paintings and artists volunteered to donate 10-100 percent of the painting's value. Auctioneers comment publicly on the official fanpage of the organizers, under each picture they like. The proceeds went to support the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Last week, 14-year-old art prodigy Xeo Chu auctioned an NFT (non-fungible token) painting and raised more than VND500 million ($22,000) for college students affected by the pandemic.