Hamilton, Bermuda, December 15, 2003 - ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) is delighted to announce that the ACE Gallery will host an exhibition of contemporary Vietnamese painting. The exhibition, featuring a collection of work by six Vietnamese artists, opens on Tuesday 16 December.
The artistic direction and themes of all the artists, Tran Luong, Le Quang Ha, Mai Anh, Nguyen Minh Thanh, Le Quoc Viet and Nguyen Thi Chau Giang, are influenced by Vietnam's traditions and history.
Julie Sylvester, Director of exhibitions at the ACE Gallery, spent several months researching and assembling the works. She explained, "The artists portrayed in this exhibition have vastly different styles and approaches to painting. While an independent path has been forged by each of the artists whose visions are boldly their own, they are unified by the fact that their work is rooted in the peaceful traditions of Vietnamese daily life.
"ACE is both delighted and honored to sponsor this exhibition and collection of contemporary Vietnamese painting." Said Brian Duperreault, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of ACE Limited. "ACE is committed to Vietnam and its people and is proud to take this opportunity to help promote and cultivate Vietnamese art."
ACE already maintains business and community links with Vietnam.
Since opening its representative office in Vietnam in 1996, ACE has made many important contributions to the development of the country's insurance sector. In addition, ACE has donated to many charitable causes in Vietnam, including a highly successful mine awareness program in Quang Tri Province under the auspices of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and the construction of an elementary school in Ninh Binh Province under the Vietnam Children's Fund. In fact, the dedication of the school in September 2003 was a historic occasion for Vietnam as it brought together Vietnam and America's first Ambassadors since the respective countries established diplomatic relations in 1995.
ACE INA International Holdings, Ltd. has applied for and is waiting approval to establish and operate a life insurance company in Vietnam.
The ACE Gallery is open to the public Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Admission is free. Groups are welcome but should call ahead for an appointment. The ACE Gallery, ACE Global Headquarters, 17 Woodbourne Avenue, Hamilton. Telephone 295 5200. The contemporary Vietnamese painting exhibition runs until 6 February 2004.
ACE Limited is the Bermuda-based holding company of the ACE Group of Companies, one of the world's leading providers of insurance and reinsurance. The ACE Group provides a diversified range of products and services to clients through operations in nearly 50 countries around the world. Additional information can be found at: www.acelimited.com.