Shireen and her love for Vietnamese fine arts

Shireen Naziree (1947-2018) was an independent curator and an influential art researcher in Southeast Asia. She had a long-standing attachment to Asian art, especially Vietnamese painting. Artists have always remembered and expressed deep gratitude for her sincere and profound dedication.

Impressions and expressions of Vietnamese painting

The book named Impressions and Expressions: Vietnamese Contemporary Painting, co-authored by Shireen Naziree and Phan Cam Thuong and published in Bangkok in 2006, was considered one of the best works on Vietnamese painting at that time.

Shireen Naziree appreciated contemporary Vietnamese painting and always positioned it within the Southeast Asian context. According to Shireen, traditional foundations, in combination with contemporary aspirations, have driven Southeast Asian art to the global art market.

Shireen played a key role in bridging the gap between local artists and the international scene, especially via Thavibu Gallery. She recognised the hidden beauty and depth in Vietnamese art.

Vietnamese painters

Shireen has curated for many prominent Vietnamese artists, including Le Quang Ha, Dang Xuan Hoa, Thanh Chuong, Pham An Hai, Trinh Tuan, Dinh Quan, Dao Hai Phong, and others.

As a discerning art critic, she deeply understands artists' inner struggles and views.

For example, Le Quang Ha’s art was a subtle blend of traditional and modern values. Luong Xuan Doan's art closely intertwines with various forms of expression, reflecting academic interests and historical narratives through modern painting techniques while retaining strong traditional elements.

A collection of Shireen's writings on Vietnamese artists, as well as some of her studies on Vietnamese fine arts, has been compiled, translated into Vietnamese, and published as a book.