Symbolic project of solidarity in overcoming COVID-19: Many sentiments from the people

After 15 days of calling for comments on the symbolic project to unite to overcome COVID-19, Tuoi Tre newspaper received many comments from experts, cultural figures, artists and people.

Artist volunteer team takes COVID-19 test samples - Photo: NGUYEN HIEN

Opinions expressed support for the construction of a memorial for the 23,000 people who died from COVID-19, and to show gratitude to the medical staff and forces participating in the fight against the epidemic.

"Silent Point" of Gratitude

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau - General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Historical Association - said that the symbolic work of solidarity in overcoming COVID-19 located at plot No. 1 Ly Thai To Street (Vuon Lai Ward) is suitable because it is spacious, centrally located, and can become a "quiet spot" in the middle of the city, where people can stop, contemplate and express their gratitude.

The land already has a "park" with many old trees, so the project needs to be designed "following" the landscape to harmonize with nature, contributing to enhancing the overall value of the park. The project not only records the past but is also a humanistic manifesto of Ho Chi Minh City that always knows how to rise up with love and community responsibility.

Mr. Ho Tan Duong, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Design Association, stated that a memorial project does not necessarily have to be grand but must touch people's emotions.

There can be three minimalist parts with the memory area, the gratitude area and the revival area - symbolizing rebirth and faith in the future. Where light and shadow, materials and space, trees and water will speak for themselves, helping people reconnect with their inner emotions.

Authorities deliver ashes to the homes of COVID-19 victims' relatives, August 2021 - Photo: TU TRUNG

Architect Le Thua Trung Hung specifically suggested that the symbolic area should focus on spaces with metaphorical connections: "I propose placing the memorial for COVID-19 victims at the back of the land, far from the roads to avoid noise. The project can connect the past and present, between reality and fantasy when thinking about a difficult journey that has been experienced."

Sharing this view, MC Quynh Hoa hopes that the project space will be like a park for people to walk and relax in a quiet space. On holidays, people can come and place a flower in memory.

Director Ca Le Hong suggested that the project should not focus too much on pain but should be humane, compassionate and demonstrate the rise of the people of Ho Chi Minh City.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association Doan Hoai Trung agrees that the monument should not be too sad but should exude the spirit and resilience of the people of Ho Chi Minh City during the great disaster.

"In the future, when people come to this memorial park, they will feel and understand the disaster that happened, and at the same time be grateful and appreciate those who threw themselves into the life-and-death battle against the pandemic.

In addition to commemorating the tens of thousands of people who died from COVID-19, this place also has a meaning of gratitude, first of all for the medical and military forces who directly rushed into the battle to save the lives of our compatriots," said Major General Nguyen Hong Son, former Director of Military Hospital 175 .

Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thanh Binh - former Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University - suggested that the sound and light in the memorial area should be quiet, using soft instrumental music at rest stops. Combine sunlight during the day and artistic lighting at night.

During the COVID-19 season, Chi Lang Secondary School (Khanh Hoi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) was requisitioned as a field hospital in District 4. - Photo: TTD

When the pandemic passes, Chi Lang Secondary School (Khanh Hoi Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) returns to its proper function: education - Photo: TTD

Establish a memorial house to preserve memories

Major General Nguyen Hong Son said the memorial will tell stories of love, difficulties in treating COVID-19, stories of funeral arrangements for compatriots who did not survive, and the touching return of each urn of ashes:

"At the memorial site, we can simulate for future generations what a COVID-19 recovery room is like, and how difficult and meaningful it is to take care of the deceased's funeral. We can even tell stories about culture during the pandemic, with artists going to quarantine areas and field hospitals to perform to encourage people's spirits."

Associate Professor, PhD, Architect Vu Hong Cuong - Head of the Interior Design Department of Hanoi Architectural University - expressed the opinion that the symbolic construction site of the solidarity to overcome COVID-19 should have a museum. If the existing architecture in this space cannot be utilized, then an underground museum should be built.

Many artists and photographers have promised to donate paintings and images of the COVID-19 fight if a memorial house or museum is built.

In particular, Mr. Huynh Minh Hiep - Deputy Chief of Office of the UNESCO Center for Research and Conservation of Vietnam Antiquities - said he would donate a collection of thousands of memorabilia about the COVID-19 pandemic from the early days when the whole country entered the fight against the pandemic that he collected.

Staff at Binh Hung Hoa Cremation Center (Binh Tan District - Ho Chi Minh City) carefully arrange the urns to prepare for handover to the military force to take home - Photo: TU TRUNG

Ms. Le Tu Cam - President of the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Heritage Association - believes that with the new perspective on exhibition, museums need to move from a static exhibition space to a dynamic dialogue; "so that memories do not fade, museums always make them "live" again through storytelling sessions, exchanges with historical witnesses, white-shirt soldiers, volunteers, soldiers, ambulance drivers.

The museum creates a space for interactive and critical learning. Workshops, discussions and creative art projects inspired by artifacts will encourage visitors, especially the younger generation, to actively participate."

Professor Huynh Van Son - Ho Chi Minh City University of Education - emphasized that the symbolic project of solidarity in overcoming COVID-19 needs to become a place to implement community education, to have lessons about the lessons of loss, to be a place to incubate humanitarian projects to help orphans due to the epidemic, to organize career guidance programs for students who have experienced psychological shock...

On November 6, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies held a discussion to gather experts' opinions on a symbolic project to overcome COVID-19. Many opinions said that the memorial project should demonstrate the spirit of solidarity, sharing and revival after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Luu - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations - said the project should not be too tragic but should go deep into emotions, showing that through loss we need to look to the future.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association Nguyen Xuan Tien said that the area of ​​the symbolic construction that unitedly overcame COVID-19 should be a place of remembrance and gratitude for people to come and reflect and for tourists to contemplate.

"Currently, next to the land plot No. 1 Ly Thai To is Au Lac Park, it is necessary to connect these two spaces together. At the same time, the land plot also has two metro lines below, it is necessary to study the spatial planning around this land plot associated with the urban development model according to the orientation of developing public transport and underground space" - Mr. Ngo Anh Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Urban Planning, noted.

Back to topic

HOAI PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cong-trinh-bieu-tuong-dong-long-vuot-qua-covid-19-bao-tinh-cam-long-dan-gui-gam-20251114224755788.htm