Located at the beginning of Hoang Dieu Street (Phan Rang City - Thap Cham) for more than 12 years, Minh Tuan Gallery is known as the nursery and refuge of more than 50 children with disabilities (CWD) over 12 years old who have a passion for sand paintings. . Having the opportunity to visit and meet Mr. Dang Minh Nghia, the owner of the gallery, we are more and more impressed by the benevolent heart of this "horizontal" artist.
As a construction contractor, Mr. Nghia is very passionate about sand paintings, so he always tries to find out on his own. In 2010, many people encouraged him to participate in the trade fair - craft village associated with Kate Festival with a sand painting of husband and wife and luckily won a consolation prize. From that award, many people know about "hands-on painter" Minh Nghia, in which many deaf children come to ask to learn sand painting. In 2011, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs licensed vocational training; local authorities at all levels and branches support Mr. Minh Nghia to become a free drawing teacher for children with disabilities. And then, Mr. Minh Nghia's special class was born, where teachers and students communicate through hand signs and eye contact. The teaching tools are glass cups, glass cages, sand and small bamboo spoons and sticks which are likened to students' pens and notebooks. With soulless grains of sand, children draw their own works of life, bearing the breath of life. To get painting materials, he went to many places such as Nam Cuong sand dunes to find red sand, black sand at titanium mineral processing factory, skin color sand he took from Binh Son beach, etc. With his work, many people volunteered to support and contribute materials to help the children feel free to compose. Sand paintings capture hometown landscapes, familiar images in life to complex portraits by skillfully pouring sand from top to bottom. To become a sand painter, learners need to master the technique of mixing colors, layering colors, choosing frames, presenting detailed lines in the picture. Along with meticulous techniques, it requires learners to have energy and perseverance to stay with the profession. Because if you accidentally make a small mistake, you have to start all over again.
Mr. Dang Minh Nghia guides Nguyen Van Nguyen to draw sand paintings.
Under Mr. Nghia's dedicated guidance, many children with disabilities have had a job as a living capital. On average, each child can compose 1-2 landscape paintings per day, earning about 4-7 million VND per month. According to Mr. Nghia, who has been learning to draw since the first days, Nguyen Van Nguyen, from Phuoc Dan town (Ninh Phuoc) has so far mastered the techniques, literate, use sign languages and become the main employee. work at Minh Tuan gallery. Nguyen shared: I am fortunate to have been taught to draw by Mr. Nghia for free, so far I have basic skills and can support myself. Sand paintings help me confidently overcome my own shortcomings. Or like Chau Thanh Khoa, Nhon Hai commune (Ninh Hai) so far has opened his own gallery, earning extra income for his family.
Although fate does not smile on the children with disabilities, with their extraordinary energy, the original paintings are still monotonous, but gradually bring vivid nuances. Works such as the voice of the deaf's heart through each stroke, the unique color of sand, and the unique color of sand breathe life into paintings such as Ninh Thuan Museum, portraits of Uncle Ho, General Vo Nguyen Giap or landscapes of his homeland and country. . The works of Minh Tuan gallery are more and more known. Not only teaching free drawing and providing lunch, Mr. Nghia also helps the children find output products. Mr. Minh Nghia connected and consigned products at tourist destinations such as Po Klong Garai Tower; Saigontourist… introduce products to the children. Since then, Minh Tuan gallery has been known by many customers, ordering regularly, creating a stable source of income, helping them confidently live with their craft. Gallery is not only a place for children with disabilities to show their talents, but also to earn extra income and cover their lives. Talking about future plans, Mr. Minh Nghia shared: Seeing the growth of the students, I gradually eased my worries. Now I want to expand the gallery with more diverse forms such as stone paintings, embroidery paintings connecting many disabled children who can easily learn according to their needs and forte.
My Dung
