Master stage designer Phan Phan has passed away.

(NLĐO) - People's Artist and painter Phan Phan (real name Phan Dat Truong, born in 1933 in Tan Hao, Ben Tre) passed away at 7:35 PM on May 25th, at the age of 87.

People's Artist and painter Phan Phan stands beside a stage design model at an exhibition organized by the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Film.

His sudden passing is a great loss to the Southern theater community. He designed the set and produced hundreds of theatrical works, and the works he designed are a valuable asset to the younger generation of artists and set designers.

Possessing the straightforward nature typical of people from Southern Vietnam, the artistic design works of People's Artist Phan Phan always exude a refreshing and vibrant spirit. People's Artist and director Tran Ngoc Giau – Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association and Director of the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theater, who was closely associated with him, said: "His contributions to the Southern theater are immense. He always embraced new ideas, bringing modern artistic values ​​to the stage. From his achievements, generations of artists after him will forever consider it a valuable lesson and a model to follow and dedicate themselves to the field of stage design."

Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung and People's Artist painter Phan Phan

Since the passing of People's Artist and painter Luong Dong, the entire South of Vietnam has only had People's Artist and painter Phan Phan. Therefore, he is always the top choice for art troupes when staging new plays. In his artistic design work, he is always dedicated and passes on his experience to younger generations. People's Artist Le Thuy said emotionally: "When I and Minh Vuong worked at the Golden Stage, People's Artist Phan Phan designed the opening play 'Midnight Idol,' followed by plays like 'Durian Leaf,' 'One Man, Two Women,' 'Blood Stained Temple Courtyard,' 'To Anh Nguyet'... Phan Phan's scenery is so soulful. Every angle is beautiful. The spaces he designed have a unique aesthetic taste; you can tell it's his work just by looking at it." And People's Artist Ngoc Giau wept: "He painted portraits of artists to hang in front of the theater so beautifully. We will never forget those talented brushstrokes."

People's Artist and painter Phan Phan and the artists of Tay Do Cai Luong Theatre

In 1954, when People's Artist Phan Phan was still a student at the Gia Dinh School of Applied Arts, he began his career as an artist by creating comic strips. After being rejected many times, one day he brought a stack of newly drawn comics to the "Saigon Moi" newspaper owned by Mrs. But Tra. At that very moment, the artist who had resigned due to a salary increase was about to leave, so the editor-in-chief immediately hired him as a replacement.

Then, by chance, he was introduced to the stage because the son of the editor-in-chief at the time was infatuated with the young actress Thanh Nga (Meritorious Artist Thanh Nga - daughter of Mrs. Tho, the manager of the Thanh Minh, Thanh Nga troupe), and wanted to invest in the play "The Village Headman's Assistant" as a gift for his beloved. People's Artist Phan Phan was chosen to design the stage and has since been involved with the stage.

The stage name Phan Phan came about because the person who hired him at the "Saigon Moi" newspaper noticed his hasty departure after his comic strip drawings were criticized as immature. They used the words "khoan khoan" (wait, wait), pronounced in the Southern Vietnamese dialect as "phan phan," to try and keep him so the editor-in-chief could discuss his salary. He felt a connection with the words "phan phan" and kept it as his stage name.

People's Artist Phan Phan

The Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre had planned to hold an exhibition on stage design and theatrical art in August of this year, honoring him, a master of this art form. However, he passed away before he could carry it out.

For the younger generation of stage designers, the valuable lessons he left behind form the foundation for continuous development, guiding stage spaces towards genuine and beautiful emotions.

Stage artists will forever remember the contributions of People's Artist and painter Phan Phan.

People's Artist and painter Phan Phan has designed over 600 plays and won numerous awards in the national theater scene. He was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist in 1997 and People's Artist in 2007.

His funeral was held at his private residence: 137/45 Tran Dinh Xu Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/van-nghe/nghe-si-tiec-thuong-bac-thay-thiet-design-san-khau-phan-phan-20190527070901765.htm