The girl who nurtures small flowers

Phan Ngoc Thuy Duong at Cham Nhien facility. Photo: DUC TUAN

Touching the Foot of Nhan Mountain

Cham Nhien Fine Arts Training Center is located next to the turnoff to Nhan Mountain. Many visitors visit the “Little Flowers” exhibition room, engrossed in the process of following the group up to Nhan Tower. Some visitors respectfully buy the emotional paintings of the young artists in the exhibition.

The exhibition “Little Flowers” of the Cham Nhien Fine Arts Center took place from February 1 to February 28 at the Cham Nhien Center (90 Le Trung Kien, Tuy Hoa City), with the contribution of paintings by over 30 young painters who are attending the painting class of artist Phan Ngoc Thuy Duong. The Cham Nhien Fine Arts Center has been in Tuy Hoa City since October 2024.

Phan Ngoc Thuy Duong was born in 1995, in Phu Dong ward, Tuy Hoa city. Having loved drawing since childhood, Duong took drawing classes at Phu Yen Children's House (now Phu Yen Youth Activity Center), and dreamed of becoming a drawing teacher. During her school days, Duong won second prize in the drawing competition for peace and friendship between Korea and Vietnam (2002), third prize in the "Medal Design" competition organized by the French - Vietnamese Academy of Architecture (2017)... After graduating from high school, Thuy Duong studied Graphic Design at Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture. In 2019, she packed her bags and went to France to study abroad, improving her expertise at Strasbourg University (Université de Strasbourg). In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she decided to stay in Phu Yen to work, not to continue studying in France. And her dream of becoming a drawing teacher arose again. Thuy Duong bought more easels, brushes, and colors; renovated her rooms; curriculum; announcement of student recruitment at home in Phu Dong ward.

“I see that children in many countries learn art from a very early age. Learning is like playing, in a gentle, fun but systematic way. The core is that art knowledge stimulates the ability to perceive beauty and explore oneself in each child, thereby contributing to expressing each child's individual abilities,” Thuy Duong shared.

Regarding the reason for choosing to start a career in Phu Yen , Thuy Duong expressed: “Actually, when I was studying in Ho Chi Minh City, I also taught painting. When I decided not to go to France anymore, it was easy for me to find a job in the southern provinces. But I chose my hometown Phu Yen. I want to bring my knowledge and experience to help children in my hometown approach painting systematically.”

Door of art

Observing the drawing class at Cham Nhien, I felt happy too. The smiles were bright and eager with each color box and brush stroke. The students here were all fully equipped by Ms. Duong with paper, colors, brushes, easels, etc. Some students worked as if they were playing, but their drawings were very "sweet", each shape appeared vivid and impressive. The students created shapes on paper while laughing and talking happily, carefree. The class schedule here also includes many trips to visit museums, relics, and scenic spots; drawing on the beach, in the mountains, in the fields, etc.

A boy told me while drawing: “I am in 3rd grade, I have been taking Ms. Duong’s drawing class for 4 months. I can draw on paper, fabric, on plates… all of them. I love it! My mother said that as long as Ms. Duong is still teaching drawing, she will let my sister and I attend.” A mother came to pick up her child and said: “My child comes here to take drawing classes on the weekends. He has been smiling and happy ever since he started taking drawing classes here. Every time he has to miss a drawing class, he gets sad.”

I chose Phu Yen as my hometown. I want to bring my knowledge and experience to help children in my hometown approach painting systematically.
Phan Ngoc Thuy Duong

I was concerned when I learned that the rental cost of the Cham Nhien facility was quite high. However, Thuy Duong calmly said: “I am still doing remote graphic design for partners in Ho Chi Minh City, while at the same time “nurturing” and developing drawing, fabric dyeing, and yoga classes. I have a yoga instructor certificate since 2020”.

The next day, I visited the adult drawing class at Cham Nhien. Ms. Thu, a student of the class, said: “I have loved drawing for a long time, but now I have the opportunity to learn it properly. I only needed Duong to guide me through a few steps and I was able to draw right away. I really like the relaxing, healing space through art, nature and yoga at Cham Nhien.”

Painter Tran Truong (Fine Arts Association, Phu Yen Literature and Arts Association) commented: “Thuy Duong’s way of teaching fine arts is very new. She does not aim to “train chickens” or “pretend” young students to please their parents. Not only does she suggest skills, but she also flexibly implements “coloring and shaping” in fine arts on many materials. This creates excitement and promotes the creativity of the children. As far as I know, some children who showed signs of depression have become active when studying painting here. Currently, I am working with some painters to find ways to support the activities of the Cham Nhien facility to be more diverse and effective.”

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/van-nghe/202505/co-gai-uom-mam-nhung-bong-hoa-nho-ea31c26/