At the meeting, on behalf of the family, Mr. Le Thanh Trung (son of Mr. Le Tat Dac) expressed his emotion at being able to offer incense and visit the place that marked the days of his father's indomitable and steadfast struggle. The family of Mr. Le Tat Dac presented the Dak Lak Museum with a precious gift: an oil painting titled "Bird Soaring Through the Wind," created by artist and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tuan Long, from the Culture and Arts Department (Propaganda Department - General Political Department).
The painting is inspired by the historic prison break on January 19, 1942, of three revolutionary fighters: Le Tat Dac, Nguyen Chi Thanh, and Phan Doan Gia. This is a real event, marked as one of the golden pages of the revolutionary struggle at Buon Ma Thuot Prison. Built by the French colonialists in the 1930s, Buon Ma Thuot Prison is a symbol of the brutality of the colonial and imperialist regimes and the indomitable fighting spirit of the outstanding sons and daughters of the Vietnamese revolution. It imprisoned steadfast revolutionary fighters such as Phan Dang Luu, Ho Tung Mau, Vo Chi Cong, Nguyen Chi Thanh, and Doan Khue…
Le Tat Dac, an intellectual from Thanh Hoa province who joined the revolution at a young age, was arrested and exiled to Buon Ma Thuot. Imprisoned alongside him were Nguyen Vinh (Nguyen Chi Thanh), who later became a General in the Vietnam People's Army, and Phan Doan Gia, a loyal early Party cadre. Three men, three destinies, but sharing a common belief and aspiration for independence and freedom.
A plan for an escape was devised and agreed upon by the comrades. Three comrades—Le Tat Duc, Nguyen Vinh, and Phan Doan Gia—volunteered to go foraging in the forest, a rather arduous and dangerous task. Each prepared a little salt, a few boxes of matches, and some medicine to prevent illness. The most difficult part was figuring out how to trick the guard, Druid. After much deliberation, the soldiers finally came up with a clever plan: every day after cutting the grass, the three of them would lie down and take turns massaging each other, appearing relaxed and comfortable. Druid, surprised and puzzled, explained to him the benefits of the massage—that it would relieve fatigue, improve blood circulation, boost health, refresh the spirit, and cure all illnesses—making the guard curious and wanting to try it. Indeed, after the massage, Druid felt relaxed and comfortable. From then on, Druid demanded that the prisoners give him a massage every day.
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The family of Mr. Le Tat Dac donated the painting "Birds Soaring Through the Wind" to the Dak Lak Museum. |
On January 19, 1942, citing the dry season and lack of grass, the prisoners asked the guards to disperse so they could cut more grass further away. As Dr. Drie lay down to receive a massage, three prisoners tied his hands and feet and escaped. The successful escape allowed the three fighters to traverse dense forests and high mountains, overcoming all hardships, and return to the Party and the revolution. Once again, they proved that no shackles or chains could imprison a communist prisoner or hinder the revolutionary fighters from continuing on the path to national liberation. This event became a legend, passed down as a symbol of the yearning for freedom and unwavering will.
In the painting "Birds Soaring Through the Wind," artist Nguyen Tuan Long not only recreates a historical event but also conveys the spiritual stature of those who dared to break free from their shackles. Amidst the vast expanse of the mountains and forests are the images of three resolute and resourceful soldiers overcoming adversity to find the light of freedom. The work reminds today's generation that freedom and independence are not taken for granted, but are the result of the blood and sacrifice of countless generations who overcame the storms of imprisonment, bombs, and bullets.
With that in mind, the family of former prisoner Le Tat Dac donated the painting to the Dak Lak Museum not only as a work of art but also as a sacred part of the family's memory, a heroic memory of the unforgettable years of the nation. Mr. Le Thanh Trung, son of Mr. Le Tat Dac, emotionally shared: “We hope this painting will be displayed to introduce to the public the heroic historical moments of previous generations, contributing to raising the awareness of the younger generation in preserving, building, and protecting the Fatherland.”
The artwork "Bird Soaring Through the Wind" will be displayed at the Buon Ma Thuot Prison as a sacred artifact, not only helping to connect the past and present, but also inspiring the younger generation – those who will continue the journey of their ancestors in building and protecting the country.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202511/chuyen-ve-mot-buc-tranh-son-dau-4bf29f7/
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