Diplomatic ties between Finland and Vietnam were established on 25th January, 1973 - just before the signing of the Paris Peace agreement. The two countries will therefore celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2013. During the jubilee year, the Embassy of Finland will organize a series of cultural and other events in Vietnam. A key event will be the travelling exhibition of Finnish posters.
To create a harmonized image for the jubilee year the Embassy of Finland organized a logo design competition directed to the 3rd and 4th year students of the Faculty of Graphic Design of the Hanoi University of Industrial Arts.
The best practice guidelines of the international graphic design association ICOGRADA were followed in the competition. An international jury was composed of Graphic Designer Ms Pia Kaikonen (Finland, chairperson of the jury), Graphic Designer Mr Claude Jacquelin (France) and Deputy Director General Ms Nguyen Phuong Hoa of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.
Jury awarded the first prize of VND10 million to the design submitted by Mr Dao Tung Duong, a 3rd year student. Second prize was awarded jointly to the designs of Mr Duong Nam Thuat and Mr Nguyen Thanh Hieu.
In the work submitted by Mr Dao Tung Duong the jury appreciated especially the dynamism and clarity of the design: “it is a simple but efficient, modern design, easy to use and remember, with a part of the star flying for tomorrow!”
The design symbolizes the blossoming relationship between Finland and Vietnam. Water is a key element as Finland has 200,000 lakes and Vietnam has a long coastline and many rivers. Finland has also provided an important contribution to the development of water and sanitation sector in Vietnam. The flying element symbolizes next generations, innovations and new ideas for cooperation between the two countries.
As part of the jubilee year program for the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Finland and Vietnam in 2013, Finnish artist Maritta Nurmi has been nominated by the Embassy of Finland as the “Creative Person of the Year” for the year 2013 in Finland-Vietnam relations.
With the nomination the Embassy wants to recognize the long and substantial work of Ms Nurmi, who has lived and worked in Vietnam for already 18 years.
With the nomination - and with the cultural programme of the jubilee year - the Embassy wants to raise the profile of culture in the relationship between the two countries.
The Embassy intends to continue the tradition of nominating a “Creative Person of the Year” also in the coming years.
Nguyen Mai
Vietnamese
