A bright spot in the national art photography movement

Photographers from Quang Nam province and Da Nang city participated in creating photos at the Gala Program “Tuong Masks Through the Lens of Photography” at APEC Park. Photo: DOAN HAO LUONG

Grown from hardship

Photographer (NSNA) Mr. Van Sinh, former Chairman of the Da Nang City Art Photography Association, said that after the liberation and reunification of the country, the Quang Nam - Da Nang Department of Information and Culture established the Propaganda Photography Department to carry out the task of conveying information and state policies to the people with the aim of stabilizing life, stabilizing society, bringing people back to their homeland, increasing production... The daily work of photojournalists is to go to the grassroots, districts, communes, cooperatives... to record images, then display them at 82 Hung Vuong along with other types of journalism to serve the people.

In 1978, the first congress established the Quang Nam - Da Nang Literature and Arts Association, including 5 majors: literature, fine arts, music , theater and photography. The photography major had only more than 15 people. The photography force included private photo studio owners such as Phung Ky, Le Van Sy, Ho Xuan Bon, Le Dinh Phan, Hoang Ngoc Minh. It was not until 1983 that Quang Nam - Da Nang province had its first photography contest co-organized by the Department of Culture and Information and 50 works were selected for exhibition. This was a source of encouragement for the movement of artistic photography creation in Quang Nam - Da Nang province.

The 3rd Conference of the 2nd term of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Photographic Association in 1984 admitted 3 photography members of the Quang Nam - Da Nang Literature and Arts Association to the Vietnam Photographic Association, including the late Photographic Artist Vu Thanh Tu, Photographic Artist Ong Van Sinh and Photographic Artist Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet. These were the first 3 members and also the first Vietnam Photographic Association Branch in the Central and Central Highlands regions, after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The establishment of the Vietnam Photographic Association Branch in Da Nang promoted the movement of artistic photography, participation in competitions, professional exchanges, and the photography movement of Quang Nam - Da Nang and Da Nang city in particular, achieving many achievements, the creative force increased in both quantity and quality. In the period 1985-1990, many photography members of Da Nang were admitted to the Vietnam Photographic Association and became the leading birds, the core photographers for the development of the artistic photography movement of Da Nang city.

Affirming name through major awards

On December 24, 2001, the City Art Photography Association was established (under the Union of City Literature and Art Associations). To date, the City Art Photography Association has 80 members, including 21 members of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists. In addition, there are many active Da Nang Photography Clubs. After the first news photo work won the B prize (Silver medal) in the news photo contest organized by Nhan Dan Newspaper in 1979, titled "Fishing in the South" by photographer Le Toan and the first art photo work won the Silver medal, titled "Recovery Light" by photographer Ho Xuan Bon at the exhibition organized by the Department of Photography and Exhibition Management under the Ministry of Culture and Information in 1982, the city's photographers and artists have won many major awards at home and abroad. In particular, the first work of art photography to be awarded an international prize was the work "Mother" by NSNA Than Nguyen organized by UNESCO in July 1999 in Japan, leaving many impressions on the photography community nationwide.

After that, many artists participated in art photography competitions and won many high awards such as artist Ho Xuan Bon with the work "Loyal friend", artist Phan Ngoc Hoi with the work "Countryside childhood", artist Dang Van No with the work "Co Tu baby", artist Nguyen Quang with the work "Trang", artist Nguyen Cong Hung with the work "Kinh Bac wrestling association", artist Nguyen Van Thanh with the work "Catching fish", artist Huynh Nam Dong with the work "Crying", artist Quang Ba Hai with the work "Cham eyes"...

In particular, NSNA Than Nguyen won world titles in a short time. Meanwhile, in 2021, NSNA Huynh Van Truyen won 98 domestic and international awards. In 2022, he won a total of 104 awards and 282 works were selected for exhibition, including 1 VAPA Gold Cup, 26 Gold medals, 13 Silver medals, 6 Bronze medals, 59 honorary certificates at international art photography competitions and was honored 6 times as the best author of international competitions in Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada...

Mr. Nguyen Nho Khiem, Chairman of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Da Nang City, affirmed that Da Nang photography has recorded profound marks in the cultural and artistic life and truly reflected the historical periods of the homeland, contributing significantly to promoting the image of scenic spots and the traditional beauty of Quang people to domestic and international friends.

Generations of photographers in Quang Nam - Da Nang have continuously contributed, created, and preserved precious moments of change in the land of "Five Phoenixes Flying Together". In the current digital age, photography faces new opportunities and challenges, requiring constant creativity to keep up with trends and meet the increasingly high demands of public tastes.

With a burning passion and a desire to contribute, today's young generation of photographers will continue to inherit the tradition of their predecessors, continuing to develop Quang Nam-Da Nang photography more and more rapidly, reaching higher and higher levels, reaching national and international stature.

DOAN GIA HUY

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5414/202504/diem-sang-trong-phong-trao-nhiep-anh-nghe-thuat-ca-nuoc-4004759/