Japanese artist comes to Con Dao to teach painting.

Two Japanese artists, along with Vietnamese artists, visited Con Dao (Ho Chi Minh City) to teach painting to students and award scholarships to underprivileged students.

Five Japanese and Vietnamese artists came to Con Dao to teach painting to students - Photo: Organizing Committee

The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City, the Ao Dai Museum Branch, and the Nang Mai Artists Club jointly organized a painting activity and awarded scholarships to students in the Con Dao Special Zone (Ho Chi Minh City).

Participating in this activity were artists Takayuki Tomoi and Yoshihisa Sano (from Japan), and artists from the Nắng Mai Artists Club, including artists Huỳnh Hải Phương Thảo, Nguyễn Thị Khuyên, and Trần Thị Đào.

Over three days, from September 21st to 23rd, five Japanese and Vietnamese artists, along with volunteers, organized two short-term drawing courses for approximately 100 children at Cao Van Ngoc Primary School and Le Hong Phong Secondary School.

Ms. Huynh Ngoc Van, director of the Ao Dai Museum and the initiator of the drawing class, told Tuoi Tre Online that the drawing classes have resumed after a period of interruption due to the impact of COVID-19.

This year, the group organized two painting courses for elementary and middle school students. The children enjoyed these art classes because, due to geographical distance, children in Con Dao do not have as many opportunities to be exposed to art as children on the mainland.

Artists Takayuki Tomoi and Yoshihisa Sano, along with a group, went to Con Dao to teach painting during their trip to Vietnam to participate in the Autumn Colors 2025 exhibition at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts.

Japanese artist Takayuki Tomoi, art director of the non-profit organization Be Creative, has over 23 years of artistic experience. He has held 27 solo exhibitions in Japan and internationally.

Artist Yoshihisa Sano, a member of the Osaka Sculpture Society, has 30 years of artistic experience and has held 19 solo exhibitions.

Artist Takayuki Tomoi (in black) and artist Yoshihisa Sano (on the left) with children from Con Dao Island.

Ms. Ngoc Van added that in 2018 and 2019, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City repeatedly brought Japanese artists to Con Dao to teach painting. Teachers and students in Con Dao greatly enjoyed this activity and looked forward to it every year.

Previously, Ms. Huynh Ngoc Van - when she was the director of the War Remnants Museum - collaborated with other organizations to hold annual drawing classes in Con Dao. These short-term drawing courses and annual drawing competitions were maintained from 2013 to 2017.

"Until now, Con Dao has never had art teachers, so the curriculum didn't include this subject. Meanwhile, children love to draw. Each child participating in the drawing course receives a box of colored pencils, which they find very enjoyable," explained Ms. Huynh Ngoc Van, explaining why she organized art classes for children in Con Dao.

On this occasion, in addition to painting, the group also taught origami paper folding, making traditional Vietnamese lanterns, painting on conical hats and piggy banks… and especially awarded 32 scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Teaching young children how to fold origami.

Granting scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

HOAI PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoa-si-nhat-den-con-dao-day-ve-tranh-2025092412503461.htm