Representatives from the Department of Culture and Sports and the Hue Museum of Fine Arts presented flowers and a certificate to Mr. Le Trung Hung.
son of sculptor and painter Le Thanh Nhon

I consider Hue my second home.

Mentioning sculptor Le Thanh Nhon, not only the artists of Hue but also the whole country know him for his talent and "creative prowess." Hue is fortunate to have many works by this sculptor, and this time his family, from Australia, traveled thousands of kilometers back to Hue to donate three more of his works: "Untitled" (oil on canvas, 61x51cm), "Ceramic Vase" (ceramic, 50x35x35cm), and "Statue of Shakyamuni Buddha" (plaster, 61x51cm). All were donated to the Hue Museum of Fine Arts.

The sculptor, originally from Southern Vietnam, had a deep affection for Hue, loving it in his own unique way. Therefore, his heartfelt wish to donate his works to the land he had fallen in love with remained with him until the end of his life, a wish he entrusted to his family. The sculptor Le Thanh Nhon's son, Le Trung Hung, with his "sufficiently proficient" Vietnamese before donating the works to the Hue Museum of Fine Arts, recounted his father's final years, his plans, and especially his love for Hue. Mr. Hung said that during his lifetime, his father considered Hue his second home, after his birthplace in Binh Duong .

Mr. Le Trung Hung, son of sculptor and painter Le Thanh Nhon (left), presents the "Buddha Shakyamuni" statue to the Hue Museum of Fine Arts.

Besides teaching at the Hue College of Fine Arts (now the University of Arts, Hue University), he participated in the committee for erecting statues of Vietnamese historical figures, established by Hue's intellectuals and fine arts lecturers, chaired by Associate Professor and painter Vinh Phoi and with Professor Tran Viet Ngac as general secretary. Although his time in Hue was not long, he contributed to training many sculptors in Hue, and was honored by friends, colleagues, and generations of students as a dedicated teacher, a role model of artistic work, and left behind timeless works of art for Hue. Notable among these are the three outstanding, monumental, and magnificent works: the bronze statue of Phan Boi Chau, the statue of the Vietnamese Girl, and the statue of Quan The Am (Guan Yin). All three are located on Le Loi Street along the romantic Perfume River, contributing to the highlights of this land steeped in cultural heritage and enhancing the beauty of the poetic Perfume River.

The allure of Hue for artists

"On this occasion, by donating three of my father's works to the Hue Fine Arts Museum, it means that my father will be present in the Hue Fine Arts Museum and will forever be a spiritual child of Hue, as he wished before he passed away," the son of the renowned sculptor shared emotionally.

Researcher Nguyen Xuan Hoa (former Director of the Department of Culture and Information of Thua Thien Hue) said that he has known sculptor Le Thanh Nhon for over 50 years. At that time, Mr. Nhon was eager to create many statues of famous figures to promote the patriotic movement. “It can be said that sculptor Le Thanh Nhon was very deeply connected to Hue, a phenomenon, a source of attraction for artists. And not only the statues he donated to Hue before, but this time, when his son brought the works back to donate to the Hue Museum of Fine Arts, it further affirms his love for this land,” Mr. Hoa shared.

Receiving the artworks from the son of sculptor Le Thanh Nhon, Ms. Dinh Thi Hoai Trai - Director of the Hue Fine Arts Museum - said that it was a great honor, a great joy, and of significant importance to the museum in preserving, conserving, displaying, and introducing the life and career of sculptor and painter Le Thanh Nhon to the public both domestically and internationally. “Along with the statues of Phan Boi Chau, the Vietnamese Girl, and Quan The Am (Guan Yin) currently placed in prominent positions on Le Loi Street, many generations will forever cherish and appreciate the contributions of sculptor and painter Le Thanh Nhon and his family, including Mr. Le Trung Hung, to Hue,” Ms. Trai shared.

Sculptor and painter Le Thanh Nhon was born in 1940 in Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong. After 1975, he emigrated to Australia until his death in 2002. He graduated top of his class in sculpture from the Saigon-Gia Dinh College of Fine Arts in 1963 and became a lecturer there. From 1970 to 1975, he taught and created artwork in many places in Central Vietnam, including the Hue College of Fine Arts (now the University of Arts, Hue University).


Text and photos: NHAT MINH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/them-lan-nua-le-thanh-nhon-tro-ve-hue-than-yeu-152214.html