Le Huu Hieu: “Awakening” the memory of Bach Dang in the contemporary flow.

At the end of 2025, painter and visual artist Le Huu Hieu was honored with a Certificate of Commendation from the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. This is well-deserved recognition for his persistent contributions in using contemporary art to honor the flow of national history, culminating in the grand exhibition "From the Battle of Bach Dang to the Great Victory of April 30, 1975".

Historical and artistic landmarks on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street.

As part of the activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the Unification of the Country (A50), Le Huu Hieu's installation exhibition created a surprise in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. With its massive scale and powerful visual language, the work "From the Victory at Bach Dang to the Great Victory of April 30, 1975" is not just an exhibition but a "living space of memory".

An image of an epic painting in lacquer on display on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Ho Chi Minh City.

The public was truly overwhelmed by the telling figures: A gigantic field of 30 twisted eucalyptus wood stakes (taken from the upper reaches of the Bach Dang River, Thuy Nguyen, Hai Phong ) ranging in height from 5.6m to 9.5m, covered in lacquer and inscribed with the words of the "Proclamation to the Soldiers".

The monolithic aluminum altar features 27 large statues, ranging in height from 3.3m to 4.5m, cast from solid aluminum with a total weight of 30 tons.

This epic painting, a 9.5-meter-long lacquer canvas composed of 18 panels, depicts the memories of soldiers and battleships magically emerging beneath layers of red, gold, and silver.

In addition, a model of the M24 Chaffee tank hanging upside down on a field of stakes creates a unique intellectual connection between the victories at Bach Dang and Dien Bien Phu, and the Great Victory of Spring 1975.

The exhibition created a strong media and tourism impact, affirming Ho Chi Minh City's pioneering role in innovating cultural activities, while also contributing to honoring the history of tenacious struggle and indomitable traditions of our ancestors.

The exhibition was held in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province.

A decade of careful planning and a journey of "unleashing the silk from the heart and soul."

Few people know that, to achieve those sublime moments on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, Le Huu Hieu spent more than 10 years pursuing this theme. A visit to the Bach Dang stake field in Hai Phong in 2010 instilled in the artist, born in 1982, a strong urge to revive the spirit of traditional craftsmanship.

He personally participated in every stage, from design to crafting, alongside artisans from Ninh Binh's aluminum casting village. He incorporated twisted eucalyptus wood, jackfruit wood, and purely Vietnamese ceramics into his works as a profound tribute to history. His approach is not to illustrate the past in a dry manner, but to use art to "awaken" national pride in each viewer.

The success of the exhibition is measured not only by the approximately 2 million visitors or its international media coverage such as Hot Press (Ireland) and Monocle (UK), but also by the prestigious titles he has achieved, including a Certificate of Merit from the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for his contributions to prominent political events; and the title "Pioneering Artist on the UNESCO Heritage Journey 2025" awarded by the Federation of UNESCO Associations of Vietnam and Japan in Tokyo in October 2025.

Artist Le Huu Hieu received a Certificate of Commendation from Ho Chi Minh City during the days when many activities were taking place to celebrate the 14th National Congress of the Party.

Not stopping in Ho Chi Minh City, after the A50 commemoration, Le Huu Hieu continued to bring "From the Battle of Bach Dang to the Great Victory of April 30, 1975" to Ha Long (Quang Ninh) in a long-term coastal installation. Eighteen metal statues of soldiers standing majestically on the shores of the heritage bay once again affirm the artist's prowess: taking history out of books and placing it amidst nature and contemporary emotions.

Having participated in the Venice Biennale and Florence Biennale – international cultural exhibitions held annually in Venice and Florence, Italy – and having held numerous solo exhibitions in the US and Europe, Le Huu Hieu is likened by researchers to a "silkworm spinning its silk," persistently weaving layers of art that embody international thinking but are deeply imbued with the essence of Vietnamese culture.

The artist shared that, based on his creative journey, he and his collaborators are organizing workshops, scheduled to take place in February in Ho Chi Minh City; March at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum (Hanoi); and April in Quang Ninh. These presentations will not only delve into sculpting techniques but also allow the public to experience the "spirit" of history through two special materials: solid aluminum and lacquer.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/le-huu-hieu-danh-thuc-ky-uc-bach-dang-trong-dong-chay-duong-dai-1022094