When sculpture blends with life

The works of art are taken out of the exhibition space and go straight into urban life, in complete harmony every day with the clouds, the rain, the sun, the grass and trees, and of course, the public.

14 works by 14 sculptors from all over the country gathered in the Hoi Phu stream area from Nguyen Tri Phuong bridge to Minh Thanh pagoda, in harmony with the poetic landscape. Using sustainable materials such as iron, stainless steel, concrete, composite... this public art model not only contributes to beautifying the living space but also connects the public with visual arts that are not easily accessible due to their academic nature.

Sculptors Doan Xuan Hung, Nguyen Vinh and Phan Le Vuong (from left to right) with the work The Sun on Mother's Back. **Photo: P. Duyen**

Song of life

These days, sculptors are urgently completing the final stages, waiting for the day to bring their works to the public. As the first person to arrive in Pleiku (August 5), sculptor Doan Xuan Hung ( Khanh Hoa province), Head of the Saigon Fine Arts Ceramics Club, organized the assembly of a rather massive work (2.2 x 1.2 x 1.4 m) transported from the land of poplars.

Introducing the work The Sun on Mother's Back, he said that the creative idea was inspired by the verse: "The sun of the corn lies on the hill/The sun of my mother lies on her back" by poet Nguyen Khoa Diem. The work expresses the happiness of maternal love with the image of a Central Highlands woman with smiling eyes, holding a child on her back. The author's indigenous character and personal mark are boldly imprinted through the visual language: A mother representing the matriarchy, full of life through the fertile accents. Doan Xuan Hung shared: For him, each work is a song of joy about life.

Sculptor Doan Xuan Hung focuses on completing the final stages to launch the work. **Photo: P.** Duyen

The vast nature, the sincere people and the multi-layered culture of the highland region have also been successfully exploited by sculptors such as: The Roof of the Central Highlands - Nguyen Vinh; Through the Epic Region - Chau Tram Anh; The Shadow of the Kơ nia Tree - Nguyen Van Huy (Huy Anh); Mountain Girl - Ha Van Sau. Some other works that have made a special impression of the "tailor-made" quality for Gia Lai include: The Eyes of the Lake - Le Trong Nghia; Sunset on the Lake - Tran Viet Ha...

Sculptor Le Lang Bien, Head of the Sculpture Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, said: He sent a message about family affection through the work Xoe ô che nang. In the main part, the author built 2 curved blocks and a circular block above, symbolizing the image of parents spreading their arms to shield their children from the sun, a metaphor for boundless love. The part below also has a curved block motif symbolizing the image of a child playing carefree under the protection of their parents.

Meanwhile, Phan Le Vuong, the youngest author to participate in this game, also stepped out of the "Central Highlands orbit" to aim at an ever-new theme: Love. With the work Duyen, he skillfully assembled blocks with symbols representing the pairing of two halves of the world: Square - circle, plus - minus, key - lock...

Bringing beauty closer to the public

Meritorious Artist Dang Cong Hung, Chairman of the Gia Lai Literature and Arts Association, said: Stemming from their love for the mountain town, a number of businesses have joined the province by contributing part of the cost to build the sculpture park, but they all asked not to be named. The spirit of socialization is also shown in the fact that, although the cost of supporting the work is not much, the sculptors do not hesitate to devote their efforts, even spending a considerable amount of their own money to contribute to bringing beauty closer to the public.

Regarding this story, sculptor Le Lang Bien affirmed that spiritual values are the most important to him. “In the creative journey, artists always want to contribute beauty to the public and to society to create spiritual values,” he said.

Young sculptor Phan Le Vuong is pleased with the work Duyen. **Photo: P.** Duyen

Due to budget constraints, it was very difficult for us to select 14 sketches out of 54 sketches sent to the Gia Lai Land and People Sculpture Creation Camp. However, the Selection Council also selected 16 reserve works so that if we can mobilize more socialized funding in the future, we can continue the construction. We hope to turn Hoi Phu stream into an art path in the near future."
Chairman of Gia Lai Literature and Arts Association Dang Cong Hung

Sculptor Doan Xuan Hung also shares the same opinion: "The support fund is only 1/10 of the actual value of the work, but I want to share what I have, want to contribute to society. Because society has trained me to be who I am today." This enthusiasm can be clearly seen when talking with Ms. Mai Anh - his companion, his life partner. For the past half month, the hands of a piano lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music have not hesitated to share with him the hard work of the sculpture profession to soon complete the work.

Sculptor Le Lang Bien commented: The sculpture park at Hoi Phu stream is the first step to gradually shape the aesthetic thinking and urban identity of Pleiku. From here, people and tourists can enhance their cultural enjoyment through the diversity of artistic expressions.

It can be said that, not only did the authors place their works by the stream, they also placed there a sincere love for Pleiku.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/khi-nghe-thuat-dieu-khac-hoa-dieu-voi-doi-song-post563780.html