Story of an oil painting

One afternoon in late October 2025, Dak Lak Museum was honored to welcome the family of former political prisoner Le Tat Dac - a staunch revolutionary soldier who was once imprisoned at Buon Ma Thuot Prison.

At the meeting, on behalf of the family, Mr. Le Thanh Trung (Mr. Dac's son) expressed his emotion to come and offer incense and visit the place that marked the days of indomitable and steadfast struggle of his father and grandfather. Mr. Le Tat Dac's family presented Dak Lak Museum with a precious gift: the oil painting "Birds of Wind" created by artist, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Tuan Long, Department of Culture and Arts (Propaganda Department - General Department of Politics ).

The painting was inspired by the historic prison break on January 19, 1942 of three revolutionary soldiers: 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 movement 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 elite children of the Vietnamese revolution. This place detained loyal revolutionary soldiers such as: Phan Dang Luu, Ho Tung Mau, Vo Chi Cong, Nguyen Chi Thanh, Doan Khue...

Le Tat Dac, a young intellectual from Thanh Hoa who joined the revolution at a young age, was arrested and exiled to Buon Ma Thuot. Also imprisoned were Nguyen Vinh (Nguyen Chi Thanh), who later became a General of the Vietnam People's Army, and Phan Doan Gia, a loyal cadre of the Party in the early period. Three people, three fates, but sharing the same belief and aspiration for independence and freedom.

A plan to escape was drawn up and agreed upon by the comrades. 3 comrades: Le Tat Duc, Nguyen Vinh and Phan Doan Gia volunteered to go get grass in the forest - a rather arduous and dangerous job. Each person prepared some salt, a few matchboxes and some medicine to prevent illness. The most difficult thing was how to trick the guard Do-riu. After much deliberation, the soldiers finally found a good plan: every day after cutting grass, the 3 of them lay down and "massaged" each other, after the massage they looked comfortable and relaxed. Do-riu was surprised and curious when he saw this, the prisoners immediately explained to Do-riu about the benefits of "massage": it would relieve fatigue, make blood flow evenly in the body, improve health, refresh the mind, cure all diseases... making the soldier curious and wanting to try. Indeed, after being "massaged", Do-riu felt comfortable and relaxed. From then on, every day Do-riu asked the prisoners to "massage".

Le Tat Dac's family donated the painting "Birds overcoming the wind" to Dak Lak Museum.

On January 19, 1942, citing the dry season as having little grass, the prisoners asked the guards to disperse and go further away to cut more grass. When Do-riu had just laid down to be "massaged", he was tied up by three prisoners and escaped. The successful escape, the three soldiers crossed dense forests and high mountains, overcame all hardships, survived and returned to the Party and the revolution, once again proving that no shackles or chains could imprison communist prisoners, preventing revolutionary soldiers from continuing on the path of national liberation. That event became a legend, passed down as a symbol of the desire for freedom and strong will.

In the painting “Birds in the Wind”, artist Nguyen Tuan Long not only recreates a historical event, but also conveys the spiritual stature of people who dare to break the shackles. In the vast space of the great mountains and forests is the image of 3 determined and resourceful soldiers overcoming adversity to find the light of freedom. The work reminds today’s generation that: Freedom and independence are not obvious things, but are the blood and bones of many generations who have overcome the storms of prisons and bombs.

With that meaning, the family of former prisoner Le Tat Dac donated the painting to Dak Lak Museum, not only giving a work of art but also a part of the family's sacred memories, which are also heroic memories of the nation's unforgettable years. Mr. Le Thanh Trung, son of Mr. Le Tat Dac, emotionally confided: "We hope that 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 work “Birds of Wind” will be displayed at 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/