Telling the story of Tam Thanh through sketches

Brother in law 1 — An artist creates on Tam Thanh beach. Photo: PHAN VINH

Fishing village in the eyes of the artist

Architect - Painter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy - Head of the Hanoi Urban Sketching Group said that a few months ago, Mr. Nguyen Minh Nam - Vice Chairman of Tam Ky City People's Committee contacted her, inviting the group to Tam Thanh commune to create. When searching for information about Tam Thanh on the internet, Ms. Thuy learned that there were mural projects here with many large works painted by artists on the walls, looking very impressive, and this was also the first mural village in Vietnam, which had appeared in foreign newspapers.

Architect - Painter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy creates works about Tam Thanh specialties. Photo: PHAN VINH

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"At first, I thought Tam Thanh would be a crowded place with tourists, bustling with people and vehicles, bustling like many other famous tourist areas. But no! It was completely the opposite. When we came to survey last April, everything appeared peaceful, poetic, with a slow pace of life and the friendliness of the local people."
Architect - Painter Tran Thi Thanh Thuy

English 2 — Tam Thanh Market from the perspective of Hanoi Urban Sketch Group artists. Photo: NVCC

All the brothers in the sketching group were very excited when they arrived at Tam Thanh, because everywhere they looked, they saw beautiful corners, from the market, shrimp pond, beach, village road, fishermen weaving nets, repairing baskets to local specialties such as Quang noodles, fish sauce, fish sauce coffee... The artists experienced the feeling of riding a basket boat, fishing at night, catching crabs... eating simple but delicious dishes cooked by the fishing village people.

[ VIDEO ] - Representative of Hanoi Urban Sketching group shares about Tam Thanh land:

Artist Thuy shared: "We painted 45-50 paintings in just 4 days. If tourists come to Tam Thanh without much time to experience, they will not know how beautiful the scenery and people here are. As for the locals, they see everything as too familiar and normal in their eyes. So these sketches will be like a guide for tourists when coming to Tam Thanh."

Artist 3 — The artists are of different ages but share a passion for spreading beauty. Photo: PHAN VINH

Painter Chu Quoc Binh shared that all the brothers in the group recorded the daily moments of Tam Thanh fishing village through the realistic perspective of the painter, without adding or subtracting, without exaggerating but still leaving a touching feeling for the viewer, each painting is a vivid story.

English 5 — A work capturing the simple labor of fishing village people. Photo: PHAN VINH

The Urban Sketchers Hanoi Group was established in 2016 and is one of more than 300 non-profit sketching groups of the World Sketching Organization. The group has more than 11,000 members of different ages and occupations, teaching drawing for free to everyone, drawing together, and organizing exhibitions in public spaces domestically and internationally, with the aim of honoring the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of regions, contributing to promoting tourism development.

The Hanoi Urban Sketching Group has carried out sketching and exhibition journeys in Hanoi, Hue Festival, sketching the golden season of Mu Cang Chai, Ha Giang, Hoi An ancient town and abroad such as Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, China.

Digitizing paintings to promote tourism

The program "Tam Thanh Sketching Journey 2024" is part of the series of events of the Tam Ky Sea Festival 2024, held from June 23-26 by the People's Committee of Tam Thanh commune in coordination with the Hanoi Urban Sketching Group, including artists from Hanoi, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Nam... Through painting and drawing activities, directly sketching installation sculptures, displayed art products, historical relics, natural landscapes, culinary culture, traditional crafts... in Tam Thanh commune.

English 6 — A work about a shrimp pond on the Yangtze River. Photo: NVCC

Mr. Vo Quang Han - Vice Chairman of Tam Thanh Commune People's Committee said that the journey took place in a very short time, so the painters and artists tried their best, diligently creating day and night. Everyone, with their love for painting and affection for Tam Thanh coastal commune, worked enthusiastically, together creating many unique works.

flower brother 2 — Love for the land and people of Tam Thanh is the theme throughout each painting. Photo: PHAN VINH

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The works are created with the individual mark of each author and contribute to diversifying artistic products in Tam Thanh community art village, promoting local tourism development, bringing opportunities to improve the material and spiritual life of the people. The government is committed to joining hands to protect and organize the management and effective exploitation of the works that artists and painters have contributed to the locality.
Mr. Vo Quang Han - Vice Chairman of Tam Thanh Commune People's Committee

English 10 — Noodle making through pencil strokes. Photo: PHAN VINH

All the works in this sketch collection are expected to be displayed at the Cultural Space of the fishing village, a community tourism destination in Tam Thanh. The People's Committee of Tam Thanh commune has also developed a plan to develop community-based eco-tourism, in which the people are the main subjects, the Tam Thanh community art village is the highlight to attract tourists, promoting folk culture and traditional craft villages to build tourism products.

[VIDEO] - Mr. Vo Quang Han - Vice Chairman of Tam Thanh Commune People's Committee shared about the sketch program:

"More specifically, these 45 works will be digitized and stored online to promote Tam Thanh tourism and bring people new opportunities and livelihoods from these works of art. In addition to exhibitions and media activities, we will print books, print on tourism products, souvenirs such as bags, hats, T-shirts, cups, scarves... With the impressive artistry of the sketches, these will be extremely valuable assets of Tam Thanh" - Mr. Han said.

Some impressive works of "Tam Thanh Sketch Journey 2024":