THEMATIC EXHIBITION: SKETCHES OF RESISTANCE WAR IN THE SOUTH

On the occasion of the 47^th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2022), Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in collaboration with Hồ Chí Minh City Museum of Fine Arts organized the exhibition ‘Sketches of Resistance War in the South’. The exhibition opens at 9:00 am on April 26, 2022 and will be on display until the end of May 8, 2022 at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (No. 66 Nguyễn Thái Học, Hà Nội).

Resistance sketch is one of the special types of sketches, born from the situation of the war in our country, from the recording of images of events and characters related to the resistance war against the invaders in the early twentieth century.

Huỳnh Quốc Trọng, ‘Guerillas in Cai Lậy using the handmade mortar’, watercolor 35 × 25 cm

In a letter to Vietnam People’s Congress for Peacekeeping (August 16, 1958), President Hồ Chí Minh wrote “Keeping peace is the common task of the whole people. Every Vietnamese person must be an ardent fighter for peace.” If brave soldiers took up guns to go to battle to defend for the Fatherland on the front lines; On the artistic front, painters enthusiastically created works with colors and lines as sharp and effective weapons depicting the life and battle of our army and people in the war, contributing to encourage the entire army and people. Thousands of sketches were created that have become true proofs of history, expressing Vietnamese people’s aspiration for peace, justice and national heroism.

Thematic exhibition ‘Sketches of Resistance War in the South’ introduces to the art–loving public 70 sketches in the collection of Hồ Chí Minh City Museum of Fine Arts. These sketches were created directly on the southern battlefield in the period 1954–1975 with the main materials as watercolor, iron pens, pigments, pencils, wood carvings…

Phạm Quyết Chiến, ‘Do your best at work then at games’, watercolor; 15,5 × 23 cm

Lê Hồng Hải, ‘Night at the basement’, watercolor; 19,5 × 16,5 cm

These are sketches: ‘Guerillas in Lộc Điền Commune’ by Trịnh Dũng, ‘Saigon Artillery Girl’ by Lê Lam, ‘Portrait of the Liberation Soldier’ by Hoàng Anh (Lê Hạt), ‘Nurse Nguyễn Bá Khiêm’ by Huỳnh Phương Đông, ‘Night in the basement’ by Lê Hồng Hải, ‘Officer Đức Huệ went to war zone II for the conference’ by Nguyễn Tấn Lực, ‘Military marching’ by Nguyễn Đào, etc.

The sketches’ content is both idyllic and grandiose, not carrying the brutality and antagonism of war. Reconstructing the war is not necessarily the tragic reality of hurt and loss, but simply the images of soldiers of ‘bộ đội Cụ Hồ’, Uncle Ho’s army marching to the battlefield, portraits of brave and patriotic woman guerrillas, heroic mothers of Vietnam, meetings to deploy the Party’s revolutionary way, or moments of joyful rest and relaxation of the army and people… all were meticulously and vividly recorded by the artists, in visual language to clearly depict the historical context of that period. This is the outstanding difference of direct sketches in Vietnam battlefield.

Thematic exhibition ‘Sketches of Resistance War in the South’ is not only a valuable source on historical and artistic reality, but also a proof of the achievements of revolutionary art. This is a very unique highlight of Vietnamese modern art. At the same time, the exhibition is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the soldiers who have contributed blood to the nation’s defense war, brought peace to our country and honor the artists who have contributed intellectually to thicken Vietnam’s history with art.

Hà Quang Bửu, ‘At hospital’, wood carved; 22 × 36 cm

Huỳnh Phương Đông, ‘Comrade Tiểu Lôi chief of commune 5, Bù Đăng district’, pencil, watercolor; 32 × 25 cm

Art always parallels with life and closely follows historical situation of the country as a reference for us to look back to be more proud and to love our country. Not only in Vietnam but also in other countries around the world, artworks on war and revolution topics also leave lasting historical values ​​with time such as: the world’s largest non–religious monument work — Monument to the Motherland (1976) in Volgograd, Russia — one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles in World War II, or many paintings promoting the Cuban revolution such as ‘Trial me. No problem. History will exculpate me’ by Felix René Mederos Pazos marks the birth of the Cuban Revolutionary movement…

Cổ Tấn Long Châu, ‘Mother Hai dropped by’, watercolor; 27,8 × 19,5 cm

By Viet Art View