On the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the National Day (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2022) and welcoming the new school year 2022, Vietnam Fine Arts Museum organized a thematic painting exhibition ‘Tradition of studiousness’. The exhibition opens at 9:30 am on August 31, 2022 and is on display until September 11, 2022 at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (No. 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi).
Vietnam is a country with thousands years of cultural traditions, including the tradition of studiousness. For many generations, studiousness has become a noble tradition of our nation. Right from the early days of building the country, the Ly and Tran dynasties… had paid great attention to education, the Huong, Hoi, and Dinh exams were held periodically to select talented people to serve the country.
Later, right after the first independence day, President Ho Chi Minh also paid special attention to education work. On the opening day of the first new school year of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (September 5, 1945), he sent a letter to the students. In his letter, Uncle Ho wrote: “Whether Vietnam becomes glorious or not, whether the Vietnamese people can compete with the great powers of the five continents, it is thanks in large part to your education.”
The movements of ‘Bình dân học vụ’ [eradicating illiteracy in the entire population] with the goal of ‘Eliminate the enemy of ignorance’, ‘Fight against illiteracy’… launched by Him are the first, important and directional steps of the Provisional Government of Vietnam for the continuation of the learning tradition, regardless of age, ethnicity or region.
Since then, the tradition of studiousness has become one of the most popular themes in poetry, music, photography, television, fine arts… Generations of artists have created many paintings on this topic.
Particularly for fine art, the power of visual language with lines, colors and shapes always has a great advantage with the public’s vision. Therefore, the message is conveyed quickly, strongly, emotionally….
Do Huu Hue (1935 – 2022). Uncle Ho visits a starting class. 1976. Oil. 98×120 cm
Thematic exhibition ‘Tradition of studiousness’ introduces to the art-loving public 50 works of 44 artists created from the years after 1945 until now with many visual genres such as painting, graphics, sculpture… The works are shown on a variety of materials: oil, lacquer, silk, woodcarving, watercolor, wood, plaster, cast iron…
It can be seen that most of the exhibition is created of works on paper with small and medium dimension, few large paintings, lacquer paintings, because that would promptly meet the needs of propaganda and promotion for the movement of that time. On the other hand, the social context of that period was also very difficult to have enough mediums for building large works.
With the gathering of many generations of painters, during the Indochina period: To Ngoc Van (1906 – 1954), Tran Van Can (1910 – 1994), Luu Van Sin (1911 – 1983), Pham Van Don (1918 – 2000), Le Nang Hien (1921 – 2014), Kim Dong (1922 – 2009)… Resistance course: Ngo Ton De (b. 1926)… To Ngoc Van Course: Nguyen The Vinh (1926 – 1997), Hoang Cong Luan ( 1930 – 2021), Do Huu Hue (1935 – 2022)… and generations of contemporary painters such as: Le Thi Hien (1957), Vi Kien Thanh (1963)… bring to the exhibition ‘Tradition of studiousness’ many beautiful works, rich in artistic value.
Some of the works can be mentioned such as: ‘Ms Duong can read’ by painter To Ngoc Van (1906 – 1954). This is one of the resistance sketches he drew while participating in the Dien Bien Phu campaign. The painting depicts the image of a middle-aged mother holding a small child in her arms with a book, her face is happy for reading.
To Ngoc Van (1906 – 1954). Ms Duong can read. 1954. Watercolor. 49,5×35 cm
Or two paintings ‘Popular Classroom’ and ‘Villager Classroom’ by artist Tran Van Can (1910 -1994) share the same passionate and bustling learning atmosphere. The characters in the paintings, from children to adults, to the elderly, are all delicately portrayed by the artist in the language of images, strokes, colors, hard work and eagerness to learn.
Tran Van Can (1910 – 1994). Popular class of Bền village. 1948. Graphite. 21,5×32,5 cm
Tran Van Can (1910 – 1994). Popular class. 1950. Watercolor. 16×23 cm
Then came the painting ‘Mr Coông learns to initiate’ by artist Nguyen Van Giao (1916-1996) with the main color of brown, highlighting the image of a dedicated teacher teaching letters to his lovely little pupil. Or a very idyllic scene is reproduced in the painting ‘Hard studying hard working’ by artist Pham Van Don (1918 – 2000), which is the image of teenagers and children who have actively increased production to help their family and studied hard at the same time.
In addition, paintings such as ‘Muong girl reading books’ by artist Duy Nhat – Nang Hien (1921 – 2014), ‘Kindergarten’ by artist Nguyen Kim Dong (1922 – 2009), ‘Grade 5 underground’ of artist Ngo Ton De (1926), ‘Worker learns to draw’ by painter Hoang Cong Luan (1930 – 2021), ‘School in the mountains’ by painter Dang Thi Hong Hai (1933), ‘Uncle Ho visits a starting class’ of painter Do Huu Hue (1935 – 2022)… also exudes the tradition of our people’s love of learning for thousands of years.
Nguyen Van Giao (1916 – 1996). Mr Coông learns to initiate. 1971. Gouache. 50×65 cm
Pham Van Don (1918 – 2000). Hard studying, hard working. Woodcarved. 25,5×40 cm
Although sharing the same theme, 50 works in the exhibition bring a unique painting perspective of each artist to portray in the most realistic and most vivid way the precious documentary footage of the teaching career through each period with a characteristic visual language. The works convey content that is both idyllic and grand, highlighting the studious spirit and vibrant learning atmosphere everywhere and in all circumstances of the Vietnamese people.
Ngo Ton De (b. 1926). Grade 5 underground. 1967. Graphite. 30×50 cm
Even the brutal war could not prevent the development of education. Schools had to be evacuated, even studying in the basement, but learning was always concerned and widely deployed, eradicating illiteracy in the entire population, supplementary classes were established to eliminate illiteracy for the people.
When the country is peaceful, unified and independent, learning is not only about learning in school, but also about exchanging professional experiences among colleagues, learning embroidery skills, and practicing skills in the workshop, passing on the knowledge of the previous generation to the next generation. The tradition of studiousness is not constrained, narrow or limited because of any circumstances.
Hoang Tram (1928). Woman militia of Ngư Thùy. 1970. Lacquer. 90×120 cm
Xu Man (1925 – 2007). Class for children. 1977. Watercolor. 36×50 cm
Dao Van Can (1894 – 1976). Helping friend to go to school. 1967. Earthenware. 40×15×18 cm
Through direct and vivid visual language, the exhibition aims to honor the nation’s noble tradition of studiousness, arouse pride, and encourage the younger generation to continue the tradition of their forefathers studying and practicing, strive to contribute to the construction and defense of the Fatherland.
Truong Quoc Luong. Old worker, young worker. 1980. Lacquer. 60×90 cm
Duy Nhat – Nang Hien (1921 – 2014). Mường girl reading. 1960. Silk. 61×44,7 cm
Vi Kien Thanh (b. 1963). Learning how to embroider. 2004. Woodcarved. 51×68,7 cm
Hoang Cong Luan (1930 – 2021). Workers learning to draw. 1972. Oil. 60×80 cm
Hua Tu Hoai (1942 – 2008). Learning group. 1978. Plaster. H = 30 cm
Along with the exhibition is a talk show with the theme ‘Tradition of studiousness through an artistic perspective’ which will take place on the morning of September 8, 2022 at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
By Viet Art View
