Listen to the artists 'Tell stories after reunification day'

Painter Nguyen Long holds a lost sketch that was just found at the museum and takes a souvenir photo next to the painting "Crossing the Wild Grass Forest" by his father - painter Nguyen Van Hoang at the exhibition - Photo: H.VY

Taking place from now until June 8 at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, the special exhibition Telling Stories After Reunification Day is a quiet yet moving conversation with the past, where unforgettable memories are preserved through the emotional depth of art.

From realistic sketches on the battlefield to new compositions filled with post-war thoughts, each work is like a slice of time, evoking a space of contemplation about a time of fire and smoke and memories that still echo.

From the fierce battlefield to the quiet contemplation

Storytelling after the unification day introduces 105 paintings, sculptures, and sketches, arranged into four spaces: Battlefield sketches , Memories of the storm , Silent moments , and Today's perspective .

The works were selected from the collection of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts and created by artists from the Liberation Fine Arts Tradition Club, who lived, fought and created during the anti-American resistance war.

Combining works from the collection and new creations by artists who lived through the war, the exhibition creates a seamless flow of memories from the scene of the war to the silence after the gunfire, and finally a dialogue between memory and the present.

Young Tong Thuy Anh stands in front of the lacquer painting 'Welcome to Vietnam's total victory' by her grandfather - painter Tong Ngoc Phong. This is also the first time Thuy Anh has had the opportunity to visit the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts to see her grandfather's work in person. As a university student in Canada, Thuy Anh said that visiting exhibitions like this is an opportunity to learn more about history and the stories of previous generations in a vivid, memorable and impressive way through art - Photo: H.VY

The War Sketches space includes 15 vivid sketches from the war zone using materials such as pencil, charcoal, and watercolor.

The works of artists Nguyen Thanh Chau, Mai Van Hien, Xuan Hong, Nguyen Thanh Minh, Nguyen Xuan Hoang... record portraits of soldiers, marching scenes, battles... with direct and authentic emotions.

The hasty drawings on the front line have gone beyond the role of recording, becoming a living symbol of the resilient spirit and belief in the day of total victory.

A cluster of sketches by artist Trang Phuong - Photo: H.VY

Next is Memories of Firestorm , consisting of 22 works in various materials such as oil, lacquer, silk... strongly depicting the fierce days of war.

Bold colors and bold lines seem to deeply imprint the era. But in the brutality, there still shines an indomitable spirit and a desire for independence.

A colorful corner of the exhibition 'Telling stories after reunification' - Photo: H.VY

In contrast to the intensity of the first two parts, the 31 works in Silent Intervals bring a space of deep contemplation, without words, just feeling.

The paintings "Love between the army and the people" , "Celebrating victory" , "Soldier telling stories" , "Female guerrillas" ... evoke the simple yet warm beauty of everyday life in the early days of peace . After all, what remains is not victory, but people.

Feel the joy of the first days of peace and independence at the space "Silent Moments" - Photo: H.VY

Finally, today's Perspective, consisting of 38 new works by artists who lived through wartime and created in peacetime.

Those are traces recorded deep in the heart, thoughts and memories like a message that the memories of war are still there, not screaming tragically but smoldering, full of contemplation.

Quietly admiring the thoughtful painting about Agent Orange at the exhibition - Photo: H.VY

The art of preserving memories and connecting generations

Not only telling stories through paintings, this exhibition also has an exchange with painters and sculptors who were members of the Liberation Painting Department (B11), the unit that trained and managed the fine arts industry in the South during the resistance war.

Listening to them talk about the years of painting under falling bombs and about the ideals of artists during the war is also a way for today's generation to better understand a fierce past that was once very close.

Despite the loss, they have kept their creative fire alive and their belief in art as a means of preserving history, continuing ideals, and inspiring the next generation.

Painter Phan Huu Thien tells a story next to his work displayed at the exhibition - Photo: H.VY

As painter Phan Huu Thien, representative of the Liberation Fine Arts Tradition Club, confided: “After 50 years, we are happy because we can still create, still follow the artistic ideals that our teachers and predecessors have worked hard to cultivate.

Our predecessors sacrificed so that the Fatherland would be intact, so that the fine arts industry could be marked as it is today. We continue to tell the story through paintings, sketches… so that future generations will not forget.”

Some pictures at the exhibition Telling stories after reunification day:

Statue "Perfect Spy" by sculptor Tran Thanh Phong

"Celebrating Victory" by artist Xu Man

The work "Militia love"

"Past and Future" by Le Cong Uan

Back to topic

H.VY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lang-nghe-cac-hoa-si-ke-chuyen-sau-ngay-thong-nhat-20250521004351787.htm