COVID-19 Victims Memorial: Praising the solidarity of compatriots overcoming the pandemic together

Đài tưởng niệm nạn nhân COVID-19 - Ảnh 1. — Artist Le Sa Long paints during the social distancing period due to the COVID-19 pandemic - Photo: NVCC

When mentioning artist Le Sa Long, many people will immediately think of the series of landscape paintings and sketches of the daily life and emotions of Ho Chi Minh City residents during the days of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic or the series of paintings of masks and famous people spreading the message of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is also a way for him to show his gratitude to the city of tolerance and generosity, where he studied, lived, worked and is still attached to today.

If there were a memorial house, my colleagues and I would donate paintings of people helping each other and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. I am planning to paint portraits of people who witnessed the COVID-19 and how they are living now.

Artist LE SA LONG

Minimalist memorial, honoring compatriotism

When Tuoi Tre contacted him to ask for his comments and suggestions for the COVID-19 Victims Memorial, artist Le Sa Long was very excited to share.

Le Sa Long said he witnessed the losses that his fellow countrymen had to endure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and every time he recalled them, he could not help but feel moved. This great loss made those who remained feel remorseful, and having a Memorial for COVID-19 Victims was very meaningful.

Invite people nationwide to contribute ideas for the COVID-19 Victims Memorial Project in Ho Chi Minh City

"The memorial reminds us of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is not too heavy, it just reminds us, shows the solidarity of our people overcoming the pandemic and a message towards the future. The solidarity of our people shows the components and forces participating in the fight against the pandemic. Including the attention and direction of the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and religious forces participating in the fight against the pandemic.

I think the image engraved on the memorial should be simple, evocative, not narrative but still convey a humane message. It could be an image of doctors and nurses caring for patients, with a field hospital in the distance.

A lake can be arranged in front of the monument, so that the shadow of the memorial can be reflected as if reflecting on memorable moments, so that we can look forward together. This is where flower lanterns can be released on important occasions, carrying the thoughts and feelings of the living for the deceased" - said artist Le Sa Long.

He noted that the memorial should have a pedestal for flowers to commemorate those who died from COVID-19, and should not have incense sticks (to avoid superstition).

Đài tưởng niệm nạn nhân COVID-19 - Ảnh 2. — Artwork "The coinless store - the beauty of Saigon people, sharing difficulties to overcome the epidemic" - Painting: LE SA LONG

Build a cultural connection point

In the grounds of the COVID-19 Memorial, artist Le Sa Long proposed building a memorial house to display artifacts, memoirs, notebooks, and documents about the COVID-19 pandemic. These touching stories will help today's generation better understand the pandemic because the memorial cannot convey everything.

Coming here, domestic people and foreign tourists understand better how compatriots overcome COVID-19 together.

In addition to the memorial house, the investor needs to build more waiting space (common living space) for people to come here to interact and reminisce through activities to commemorate victims of COVID-19. This will also be a cultural connection point for people to meet and share through organizing exhibitions and launching books related to COVID-19.

Đài tưởng niệm nạn nhân COVID-19 - Ảnh 3. — The work "Sweet milk..." is drawn from a photo of female doctor Pham Thi Thanh Thuy wearing protective gear, holding baby Fo in one arm and breastfeeding him with the other at the emergency department of Trung Vuong Hospital (HCMC) - Painting: LE SA LONG

Suggesting the future, the good values of the nation

It can be said that the plan to build a Memorial for COVID-19 victims in the space at 1 Ly Thai To in Ho Chi Minh City has received support from many people and experts. From an architectural perspective, I have a few suggestions for the city.

Firstly, in my opinion, the memorial should not be large-scale, but should be something very pretty, delicate, relying on the green landscape system in that space, not rudely interfering with the landscape.

It could be a system of sculptures, a garden of statues, arranged and supported by nature and the trees of the park, not a memorial of incense and martyrs. That garden of statues praises the beauty of the humane spirit, mutual love of Vietnamese people helping each other in times of epidemics; and the optimistic spirit, strong to overcome pain to move towards good things.

They must primarily create a profound meaning and suggest the future, the good values of the nation. That is more meaningful than intentionally creating a strong visual impression that immediately pushes emotions and evokes pain and loss.

The sculpture garden should also be a reminder for people to live green, sustainably, and protect the environment. In addition, there should be a museum about the fight against COVID-19 in this memorial space. If the existing architecture in this space cannot be used to build a museum, it should be built underground.

Associate Professor, Dr. Architect VU HONG CUONG (Head of Interior Design Department, Hanoi University of Architecture) -