Brushstrokes depicting soldiers

BPO - There are many ways to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives and blood for the independence and freedom of the nation. Many artists have chosen to pay tribute by recreating the heroic posture and noble qualities of the soldiers of Uncle Ho, so that they may forever live on with the country. The Fine Arts Branch of the Binh Phuoc Provincial Association of Literature and Arts has several artists whose entire lives and careers are dedicated to creating works about soldiers.

In the room filled with neatly hung paintings belonging to Mr. Nguyen Van Kinh (a member of the Fine Arts Association) in Bu Nho commune, Phu Rieng district, we found that more than half were paintings of soldiers of Uncle Ho's army. Nearly 90 years old this year, Mr. Kinh no longer remembers exactly how many works he has painted depicting soldiers, only that when he picks up a brush, the images of the soldiers, his comrades from the past, flood back into his memory. Therefore, oil paintings of soldiers are always the creations he cherishes with every brushstroke.

At nearly 90 years old, painter Nguyen Van Kinh still passionately pours his soul into his creations about soldiers.

Having lived almost his entire life, the image of the soldier and the memories of the historic April days remain central to his artwork. His paintings of soldiers have won many high awards at exhibitions of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. And we were truly moved when we admired the work "April 30th Relics." The subject of the painting is some of the soldiers' uniforms and equipment. These could be what the soldiers left behind for their comrades, loved ones, and homeland on the day the country was completely liberated. Although he no longer remembers the exact years that marked milestones in his life or the times when he created his memorable works of art, just mentioning the soldiers, mentioning the two words "army," makes Mr. Kinh's eyes light up, filled with emotion and pride. Artist Nguyen Van Kinh expressed: "Even though there is peace now, I still like to paint pictures of soldiers. The time on the battlefield was both arduous and harsh, but also very heroic."

The artwork "April 30th Souvenir" by artist Nguyen Van Kinh

The soldiers in the works of artist Nguyen Duy Hong, a member of the Fine Arts Branch in Long Thuy Ward, Phuoc Long Town, are depicted through various genres such as oil paintings, woodblock prints, and propaganda posters. As a soldier and artist of the revolution, after the country's reunification, despite being busy with many tasks in the fields of propaganda and culture, Mr. Hong still dedicates time to his passion for painting. More than 80% of his works are about soldiers. Artist Nguyen Duy Hong shared: "Coming from a soldier's background, whenever I want to paint, memories of my comrades from the past are what evoke the most emotion in me. I paint them to remember and honor the brothers and comrades who sacrificed their lives, and at the same time reflect the heroic struggle of our nation."

At the age of 75, artist Nguyen Duy Hong remains passionate about recreating memories of his soldiers and comrades through various painting styles.

The memories of the days when the country was engulfed in the flames of war, still reeking of gunpowder, will forever remain unforgettable for the veterans. And it is precisely these emotions that have given soul to their works of art. Artist Nguyen Duy Hong has been connected to Binh Phuoc since 1968. Having directly participated in and witnessed the glorious victories of the Binh Phuoc army and people during crucial milestones as each region was liberated, paving the way for the general offensive on Saigon and the historic victory of April 30, 1975, the memories of those years of resistance remain an indelible part of his life, even after half a century.

The image of the valiant soldier, whether in times of war or peace, is captured through the brushstrokes of the artist.

All the memories of a time of arduous but heroic struggle have become timeless works of art, enhancing the image of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the hearts of the people. Each artwork is not only the spiritual child of the artist but also reflects the heroic spirit and courage that led to the fiery victory of April 30th. Throughout the war, from the time of national liberation to the period of national reconstruction and development, the images of soldiers appearing on every front have been captured by artists in their paintings as an affirmation of their contributions to the country, enduring through time.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/9/172110/net-co-ve-nguoi-linh