"The leading figure" of Central Highlands art.

In the flow of modern Vietnamese art, there are many works imbued with epic undertones, reflecting community life and the indomitable spirit of the people of various ethnic groups...

In the flow of modern Vietnamese art, there are many works imbued with epic undertones, reflecting the community life and indomitable spirit of the ethnic groups of the Central Highlands. When discussing fine art, it is impossible not to mention the painter Xu Man, who is considered the "leading figure" of the art of this vast region.

Artist Xu Man, whose real name was Siu Dơng, was born in 1925 in the village of Đê Krăl (now Plei Bông, Ayun commune, Gia Lai province) and passed away in 2007. His life was filled with hardship; his parents died early, his childhood was impoverished, and he had to work as a laborer for the village chief. But it was from that impoverished land that he was nurtured the willpower and aspiration to rise above his circumstances.

When the revolution broke out in 1954, the young man with a free-spirited soul from the Central Highlands found his path. He joined the resistance, carrying with him the heart of an artist and unwavering faith in the ideal of national independence. Later, he was sent to Hanoi to study at the Vietnam Fine Arts School.

During his years of training in the capital, artist Xu Man had the opportunity to meet President Ho Chi Minh . The President's simple image and profound advice became a guiding light for him. Throughout his painting career, the image of President Ho Chi Minh has always been present in his works as a sacred symbol, intimately connected with the mountains, forests, and people of the Central Highlands.

In 1960, returning to the Central Highlands after a period of study and work, artist Xu Man immersed himself in the rhythm of life in the mountains and forests, simultaneously carrying out revolutionary duties and diligently creating art. On each canvas, he poured his deep love for the villages, the vast forests, President Ho Chi Minh, and the people of the Central Highlands.

Thousands of paintings were created like epic poems in color, telling stories of community life, of the indomitable spirit in battle, and of the faith and aspirations of the people here. Xu Man's paintings are deeply epic in nature, imbued with the cultural identity of the Ba Na people. Among his representative works are "Uncle Ho with his love for the Central Highlands," "Festival in the Central Highlands," "Sunrise over the mountains and forests of the Central Highlands," and "The people of the Central Highlands celebrate the 4th Party Congress"...

Artist Xu Man won the A Prize at the National Fine Arts Exhibition (in 1976 and 1980), and was the first artist from the Central Highlands to be awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, 2nd term, and Vice President of the Gia Lai Literature and Arts Association, 1st term. His paintings are currently preserved at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum, the Military Region 5 Museum, and many private collections both domestically and internationally.

In particular, the image of President Ho Chi Minh in Xu Man's paintings is not only the artist's personal memory, but also a transformation into the shared feelings of the people of the Central Highlands towards him, a sacred and profound feeling that he portrays with all his respect, love, and pride.

Professor, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, commented that the paintings of artist Xu Man are proof of the vibrant vitality of Central Highlands art in the flow of modern Vietnamese art. Each work is like an epic poem in color, recreating community life, the aspiration for freedom, and the indomitable spirit of the people of the Central Highlands.

The harmonious blend of modern artistic language with traditional cultural elements has allowed Xu Man paintings to transcend local boundaries, becoming an important part of the national art heritage. Paintings depicting President Ho Chi Minh, villages, and festivals in the Central Highlands have contributed to nurturing patriotism, igniting national pride, and creating a unique identity for Vietnamese art during the modernization period.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Thi Anh Thu, Director of the Museum of Military Region 5, said that the painting "The People of the Central Highlands Uprising to Seize Power in the August 1945 Revolution" by artist Xu Man at the Museum of Military Region 5 is considered a "historical witness" in color, recreating the fervent revolutionary spirit and the strong uprising of the people of the Central Highlands during those historic autumn days.

According to Le Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the department will research and implement the matter within its authority; and at the same time, propose including content about the life and career of painter Xu Man into the local education program to help the younger generation better understand a great talent of Central Highlands art, contributing to nurturing national pride, arousing love for the homeland and awareness of preserving cultural identity.

QUOC THAI

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/canh-chim-dau-dan-cua-my-thuat-tay-nguyen-408240.html