The art scene in Ha Nam province is experiencing a boom.

On the evening of April 15, 2025, the award ceremony for creative works and promotion of literary, artistic, and journalistic works of the Ministry of National Defense on the theme of the armed forces and revolutionary war (2020-2025) was organized by the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army in Hanoi. Ha Nam was honored to receive one A prize and one B prize for two fine art works by two painters, Nguyen Ngan and Do Kich. Having achieved success in this prestigious award, Ha Nam's artists continue to affirm their position in artistic creation as well as their contributions to the development of fine arts in the region and nationwide…

This award is held every five years, under the auspices of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), which reviews and awards prizes for the creation and promotion of literary, artistic, and journalistic works. For this year's award, the organizing committee received nearly 3,500 entries across eight fields: culture, music, dance, theater, film, fine arts, photography, and journalism, submitted from all over the country for consideration.

According to Lieutenant General Truong Thien To, Deputy Head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army and Head of the Award Steering Committee, behind every stage light, hidden in every written page, every film, every frame are the anxieties, sweat, and efforts, the perilous journeys undertaken with warm hearts and creative thinking of artists, always striving to contribute to building a politically and ideologically strong army. Among the 208 outstanding works awarded by the Ministry of National Defense , painter Nguyen Ngan and painter Do Kich of the Ha Nam Literature and Arts Association won one A prize and one B prize respectively for fine art works on the theme of the Armed Forces and Revolutionary War.

The authors and groups of authors whose works won the A Prize received their awards.

For Do Kich, the theme of revolutionary war is particularly appealing because he was a soldier during the war against the US, having been on the battlefield and experienced the harsh and arduous atmosphere of the conflict. Even after the war, Do Kich still felt a deep longing for his comrades, the old battlefields, and the years of his youth. His six years in the military (from 1970 to 1976) gave him a realistic view of war, the bond between soldiers and civilians, the camaraderie, and the sacrifices of those on the home front. Therefore, among his thousands of paintings, Do Kich dedicated a significant portion to the theme of revolutionary war. The images of Ho Chi Minh's soldiers during the resistance are beautifully simple and imbued with idealism; the images of mothers and wives on the home front, compassionate and sacrificing for the front lines, are also depicted with nobility and profound emotion.

Painter Do Kich says that real life has given him a truthful and emotionally rich perspective. Only by experiencing war can one fully understand the losses and sacrifices of compatriots, comrades, and the nation, and this provides him with endless inspiration for the theme of revolutionary war. He conveys a realistic perspective in his works, expressing his own thoughts and reflections that people cannot always express through ordinary communication. War makes those who go through it feel proud, glorious, and more courageous... " Hanoi 12 Days and Nights" (Army Award 2002), "Fighting to the End" (Bronze Medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition 2003), "Sharing the Trenches of Dien Bien Phu in the Past" (Vietnam Fine Arts Association Award 2004), "Night March" (Bronze Medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition 2005), "The Road to the Campaign" (B Prize in the Ministry of National Defense's Award for creating and promoting literary, artistic, and journalistic works on the theme of the Armed Forces & Revolutionary War in the period 2020-2025)... are works that mark a fairly successful creative journey of Do Kich in this field.

For the first time, artist Nguyen Ngan won an award, and the highest prize at the prestigious Arts and Culture Award. He stated, "'On the Training Ground' is a woodblock print depicting the training and combat drills of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army. What makes this work special is that Nguyen Ngan created a training scene of the air force with modern technical equipment, in fast-paced situations requiring officers and soldiers to operate with utmost skill, precision, and concentration. With delicate lines and masterful carving techniques, Nguyen Ngan created a vivid painting with intentionally placed areas of light and shadow, and varying depths of carving. The composition of the painting is quite tight, creating a strong impression and evoking special emotions in the viewer, conveying the atmosphere and space of the activities on the training ground."

Artist Nguyen Ngan (far left) poses for a commemorative photo with sculptor Le Khuy (both winners of the A prize in fine arts) and staff from the Vietnam Military Museum.

Artist Nguyen Ngan shared: “I paint woodblock prints and I'm passionate about this creative pursuit, but I'm very limited in my depictions of the Armed Forces and the Revolutionary War. I used to think there was a barrier in my own thinking. Firstly, my inspiration wasn't as abundant as with other subjects. Secondly, without real-life experiences, relying only on documents and imagination, it was difficult to fully express the inner feelings of the issue. Thirdly, I struggled to find a perspective on war – something I hadn't fully immersed myself in, so I had a hard time expressing it.” Then, the realities of life and rich emotional experiences gave Nguyen Ngan a beautiful idea about soldiers. “On the Training Ground” was born from that. Now, looking at his work, artist Nguyen Ngan has a different perspective: “I think this subject doesn't necessarily have to be about war; you can look at it from a new perspective: the path of the Vietnamese national revolution, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.” Our army is growing stronger every day, always fighting and building up our forces. Our weapons are becoming more modern...

Two artists from Ha Nam province won the A and B prizes in the Ministry of National Defense's Award for creating and promoting literary, artistic, and journalistic works on the theme of the Armed Forces and Revolutionary War in the 2020-2025 period, in the field of fine arts. To achieve this success, the artists have continuously participated in creative art activities, overcoming many difficulties in their lives and work. Compared to other branches within the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, the Fine Arts branch has a smaller number of members but possesses significant potential and talent.

According to Mr. Tran Duc Duy, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, Ha Nam has consistently ranked among the top in the region in terms of the quality of paintings and sculptures, with works by artists such as Do Kich, Nguyen Ngan, Le Thi Luong, Tran Phong, and Le Minh Son. Fine arts have made significant contributions to the overall landscape of Ha Nam's literature and arts. Just considering works that have participated in national, regional, and provincial art exhibitions, hundreds of pieces have been exhibited and published, many of which have won awards at the central, regional, and provincial levels. This year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), Ha Nam's fine arts have "reaped a bountiful harvest" at prestigious exhibitions and awards, marking a proud achievement in the creative careers of its artists.

Jiangnan

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/van-hoa/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/my-thuat-ha-nam-duoc-mua-160422.html