'I love my fellow countrymen so much' through the drawings of artist Le Sa Long

Lê Sa Long - Ảnh 1. — Mi-171 rescue helicopters transport relief goods to people in heavily flooded areas such as Tuy An Dong, Hoa Xuan and Xuan Dong of the former Phu Yen province - Picture: LE SA LONG

The floods in the central region have caused heavy damage. The losses faced by the people here make everyone feel heartbroken.

Artist Le Sa Long, a native of Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai province), told Tuoi Tre Online that he was horrified when he saw images of people fighting against the flood.

From that feeling, Le Sa Long spent 4 days and nights to paint the series "I Love My Compatriots" with 13 pictures.

Le Sa Long paints with love

“Everyone has their own way of sharing the difficulties with people affected by natural disasters. Personally, I use my strength in painting to share. I put my emotions into each stroke, and the way I mix colors creates paintings that are harmonious in color and style,” Le Sa Long confided.

The artist said that when he reads the newspaper or watches the TV and sees pictures or hears the familiar names of places in his hometown, he remembers his memories, his village and the dear people he was once attached to.

The sudden natural disaster, everything in ruins, made him feel sorry for the human condition. He was also heartbroken when cultural heritages were seriously affected, even severely damaged.

The story of Mr. Ngo Kim Hung (54 years old) and Mr. Cao Truong Vu (49 years old) crossing the flood to save 6 women and children crying on the roof moved many people.

Artist Le Sa Long saw Mr. Hung's confession in Tuoi Tre newspaper and his eyes were filled with tears... "The heroes of the poor Central region are very simple. They do not use big words, they just silently do their work from their hearts... I cherish the hearts of the people of my hometown immensely" - Le Sa Long confided.

Lê Sa Long - Ảnh 2. — Portrait of Mr. Ngo Kim Hung - the boatman who saved people in the historic flood

Donate paintings for fundraising auction

He added that when he drew the events of the people or the hearts of the people of the whole country for the Central region, he was very moved. They collected money and clothes to send as gifts, which showed the solidarity and precious national spirit of the Vietnamese people.

When asked about the exhibition of the paintings, Le Sa Long said he had no intention of holding an exhibition. If the programs and activities included auctioning items to raise funds to help the people of Central Vietnam who suffered damage due to natural disasters, he would be willing to donate the paintings for auction.

Painter Le Sa Long told reporters that he contributes by having buyers of his paintings transfer money directly to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, to help those in difficult circumstances.

"Our country is often affected by natural disasters. I propose having a committee on natural disaster prevention to quickly provide warning information and overcome the consequences caused by natural disasters," artist Le Sa Long hopes.

Artist Le Sa Long draws many impressive series of paintings that reflect the breath of life, and are also topical and loved by many people such as: Series of paintings and sketches about stories about Saigon bread, Saigon people's love; Series of paintings of masks and famous people ...

He was nicknamed the painter of national events and natural disasters. Every time the country had a special event, he had a set of paintings.

For example, the series of paintings Saigon during the days of social distancing (74 paintings, 2021), the series of paintings about the fire in a mini apartment building on Khuong Ha street, Hanoi (7 paintings, 2023), the series of paintings Revived Nu Village (15 paintings, 2024).

In which a painting about Nu Village was auctioned for 80 million VND, Le Sa Long donated all of it to Nu Village people.