Even the visual arts are still lacking in creativity and display. The cultural space of Hoan Kiem Lake needs to be made more beautiful and new with quality art.
Over the past few years, Hoan Kiem Lake walking street has contributed a new feature to the life of the capital city center from many aspects: culture, tourism , entertainment, and relaxation.
The walking street makes the busy, bustling atmosphere of the whole week slower, more leisurely, gentler by giving space for people to walk, play, have a drink, eat light food, and enjoy art. On the other hand, it transforms the hustle and bustle of traffic into the excitement, enthusiasm of cultural and artistic activities and the joy of the public and tourists.
There are regular performances on weekends at several locations by the lake. Occasionally there are shows on large stages with modern sound, lights and passionate songs.
However, the initial effects of the cultural and artistic atmosphere are showing signs of gradually declining, giving way to walking, strolling, exercising, eating, drinking, and enjoying the all-too-familiar performances.
In the area right at the foot of the banyan tree of the People's Newspaper leading to Hoan Kiem Lake, there has long been a band playing the same familiar songs over and over again with surprisingly good artistic quality! It is discordant, out of tune, and sometimes not in sync or seemingly not understanding each other, so one person intends to play the ending melody while another "jumps into" the chorus. There are also accompanying screams. The performances are limited in quality and so familiar that they are boring on weekends for years, making many people bored, even annoyed, and then startled, wondering why the local cultural management agency has let it drag on like that!
In addition to professional, high-quality art performances in public cultural spaces, there may also be impromptu or short-term performances by amateur artists or art-loving masses.
But it should not be taken as the main focus of the spiritual food served to the public, even if it is free, to the transient public, passing by. Because besides the story of the price of art being high or low, expensive or cheap, the performance and dissemination of art needs to have a guarantee of quality and respect for the audience.
Also related to this, in the front area of Ho Guom Cultural Center, there is a band that performs regularly with better music quality. These artists perform songs leisurely and regularly without screaming and hosting the program with easy words. However, even if it does not "lose points", its existence for too long is worth thinking about.
There may be opinions that audiences and tourists are often crowded and diverse. Such programs and performances may be familiar and old to some people, but new to others, to newcomers. But do not forget that, before the walking street was built, the Hoan Kiem Lake area was still a destination, a place to return to for many people in the capital and many people from other areas and localities who love the cultural, historical and scenic space of this place. When the walking street was built, the sidewalks and streets around the lake continued to be a familiar place for many people to walk and relax.
The art performances here, when organized and maintained, need to be improved, changed, and renewed to serve the people and tourists, contributing to enriching and enhancing the aesthetics of the audience, and should not be boringly repetitive. Walking around Hoan Kiem Lake, I was really concerned about the performance forms that have been the same for so long. Here and there, a few people play instruments and sing impromptu. Some places are crowded but mainly for buying food, souvenirs, drinking coffee, blowing bubbles, taking photos...
Recently, there has been a new signal with a live performance on the surface of Hoan Kiem Lake, reenacting the story of King Le Thai To returning the sword to the sacred turtle, with colorful light displays and magical smoke. This is encouraging. But it seems that there is still nothing new, different and attractive around the lake.
There were times when there were promotional activities around the lake in the form of moving and singing, traditional art dances, and variety shows by artists. But up to now, it is very rare. Perhaps the impact of the economic recession also caused limitations in expanding new art programs. However, the reality is that the Hoan Kiem Lake walking street and the Hanoi Old Quarter area are continuing to "revive" with a fairly large gathering of people and tourists. We should take advantage of this opportunity with many public needs in entertainment, recreation, and sightseeing in the central area to increase and renew, make better the colors of culture and art.
Not only with performing arts, from the perspective of fine arts and photography, the lack of works in this field around the green space of Hoan Kiem Lake is also a question. At Nam Huong communal house, which has a door facing Hang Trong street, it is noteworthy that in recent times, there have been exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and fine arts... inspired by Hang Trong and Dong Ho folk paintings and images of tigers, dragons... But such examples are still too few. On some occasions, around Hoan Kiem Lake, there have been modern visual works combined with lighting, or on New Year's Day, there have been models of zodiac animals.
However, when dismantled, there is a lack of replacement and a lack of regular exhibition of works of art for the public to enjoy.
The green space around Hoan Kiem Lake and some wide sidewalks nearby, especially the area in front of Ly Thai To monument, is suitable for displaying sculptures, installations, large-scale photos... with diverse themes for the public to enjoy. The green space of many types of trees with ancient trees, perennial trees, along with famous relics such as Ngoc Son Temple, Ba Kieu Temple, Hoa Phong Tower, Nam Huong Communal House, Le Thai To Monument... or long-standing architectural works such as Hanoi Post Office, Hanoi People's Committee, Department of Culture and Sports of the city, the floating house from the Hanoi Moi newspaper to the Hoan Kiem District Police Headquarters are factors that create a nostalgic, calm atmosphere. But along with the old, the familiar, the profound color of that time, there should be new things, the diversity of colors, shapes, and styles created from today's art.
From an open perspective, the Hoan Kiem Lake space is a great suggestion not only for displaying and changing works but also for creative activities, introducing paintings, photos, sculptures, etc. using the landscape, relics, and history of this place as the subject of exploitation and reflection.
Organizing and creating visual art activities as suggested above, as well as new and unique performing arts programs and performances, should have the role of focal agencies and organizations such as the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District, the Department of Culture and Sports of the city, the Hanoi Literature and Arts Association, etc. Regarding creative potential, there are many individuals and groups of artists who love Hoan Kiem Lake, have ideas and desire to contribute to creating, displaying works or performing arts in this area.
It is possible to invite and promote in the form of ordering, borrowing works or socializing, coordinating with the state, professional associations and artists. As well as rotating and changing professional artist groups, quality programs and performances in different locations around Hoan Kiem Lake. This will create diversity and novelty for art in this very special historical - cultural - architectural - natural - tourist space.
What a “golden space” for art to be present and flourish! But it is also regrettable that after several years of organizing a walking street, the Hoan Kiem Lake area has been slow to innovate and change in terms of cultural and artistic colors; there are few unique works that beautify the souls and emotions of the public and visitors to the legendary space of the cultural capital.
Hoan Kiem Lake space is a great suggestion not only for displaying and changing works but also for creative activities, introducing paintings, photos, sculptures... using the landscape, relics, and history of this place as the object of exploitation and reflection.
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