Every artist is a soldier
Propaganda paintings about the Party have a clear political character, are useful propaganda tools, and promptly provide viewers with useful information about the revolutionary ideology and sentiments of the Party, the State and the people. At the 60th anniversary of the day Uncle Ho sent letters to artists and the Traditional Day of the Vietnamese Fine Arts World (December 10, 1951 - December 10, 2011), the late artist Tran Khanh Chuong (then Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association - PV) shared: On December 10, 1951, on the occasion of the Painting Exhibition commemorating the National Resistance Day and the success of the 2nd National Party Congress (1951), Uncle Ho sent a letter to the country's artists and he affirmed that "Culture and art are also a front. You are soldiers on that front... Culture and art, like all other activities, cannot stand outside but must be in economics and politics". In the difficult conditions of the resistance war, closely following the working and fighting life of the people and soldiers, artists created propaganda paintings, comic books, leaflets, newspaper illustrations, etc.; at the same time, they opened many drawing classes to train resistance troops. Many artists also directly participated in holding guns and fighting on the battlefields. Artists who were trained through two resistance wars became artists and soldiers of the Vietnamese revolutionary visual arts.
In the 70s of the last century, there was a painting of an army marching to the front behind the image of Uncle Ho that was considered one of the propaganda paintings with great ideological value, famous throughout the battlefield against the US. That was the work "Uncle still marches with us" by two artists Nguyen Thu and Tran Huy Oanh (from Binh Luc, Ha Nam - PV). Artist Tran Huy Oanh still remembers: Around the beginning of June 1973, our group moved to Military Station 14, and was welcomed by the comrades in the station happily, warmly, and very closely... When the station knew that I was one of the two authors of the propaganda painting "Uncle still marches with us", the Station Chief asked me to repaint and enlarge it to serve the unit's celebration. The painting was painted on canvas with Western lacquer material, hung in the middle of the old forest, before the celebration...
President Ho Chi Minh is the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam , the leader of the revolution to liberate the nation, protect the Fatherland, unify the country, build peace, and lead the country to socialism. Therefore, for artists, drawing Uncle Ho is to express their feelings for the beloved leader, for the glorious Party. According to artist Tran Huy Oanh, drawing propaganda paintings is the political task of artists, even in peacetime. This type of painting has current information, a vivid creative form, clear ideological content, along with a strong message to stimulate, encourage the masses and attract, motivate, and orient them to specific activities to achieve the set propaganda goals. The role of the artist as a "soldier" is truly clear and typical when participating in creating propaganda paintings, whether it is wartime or peacetime.
Clear in Party spirit, strong in fighting spirit
At the Provincial Cultural and Artistic Center, many artists who create propaganda paintings not only work as a profession, but also undertake political tasks for agencies and organizations that promote visual propaganda. Artist Pham Van Hoa said: Every year, the country and the province have many important political events. On each occasion, the center's team of artists must perform the task of creating and promoting these events. The consistent theme of the works in political and cultural events is the Party and Uncle Ho. Accordingly, starting from the beginning of the year, there are compositions celebrating the Party - celebrating Spring, celebrating the country's renewal; followed by the anniversary of the Liberation of the South, National Reunification Day April 30, the Dien Bien Phu Victory May 7, Uncle Ho's Birthday May 19, etc.
2025 is a year with many important political events, the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress, the work of propaganda artists is relatively heavy when they have to create works that closely follow the propaganda theme, creating trust among the people; the content of each work must aim to help people correctly perceive the information or messages that the artist wants to convey.
Almost every year, young artist Pham Van Hoa participates in propaganda painting competitions. It is known that at the end of 2024, he and many other artists in Ha Nam had works participating in propaganda painting competitions to celebrate major holidays such as: 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2025); 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) and 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2025) launched by the Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism). In these competitions, he sent some of his typical works to the Party to participate; including the works: "We are the young shoots of the Party", "Long live the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam"; “95 years of full faith, love and pride in the Party”; “The Communist Party of Vietnam – The leader and organizer of all victories of the Vietnamese revolution”; “President Ho Chi Minh, the founder and trainer of the Communist Party of Vietnam”…
According to artist Pham Van Hoa, the works participating in the contest must meet the requirements of the Organizing Committee, including: widely disseminating to cadres, party members and people of all walks of life about the nation's historical, cultural and revolutionary traditions; educating political ideology, patriotism, national pride and self-respect; fostering people's trust in the Party and State; affirming the country's renovation led by the Party... thereby introducing and promoting the country and people of Vietnam. At the same time, the works also express the best ideological content and artistic form to encourage and motivate all levels, sectors, cadres, party members and people to be determined to successfully implement the resolutions of the Party Congresses at all levels and the 14th National Congress of the Party.
Propaganda paintings about the Party, no matter the circumstances, always show viewers the greatness of Uncle Ho and the only and sacred belief in the Party. Painter Nguyen Ngan, Chairman of the Ha Nam Literature and Arts Association, shared: Painters who paint propaganda paintings should not, because they are "familiar" with their political duties, have an easy-going mentality or copy other people's ideas, but always need to be creative and innovative in their thinking. The themes of the Party and Uncle Ho are broad topics, exploited by artists in many different aspects so that each time they create, there is always a new expression, contributing to enriching the viewers' feelings for the Party and Uncle Ho. The slogans in each painting also need to be expressed in a coherent, sharp manner, without being roundabout or tricky, but the words and writing must be clear and concise. Because propaganda paintings about the Party must converge the Party spirit, the mass spirit, and the fighting spirit. To properly express the fighting spirit, the painting must have beautiful, sharp slogans, the image composition must show generalization and harmony, the characters in the painting must express the most beautiful soul and nuances...
The artist’s awareness and feelings about the Party are an important foundation for creating valuable propaganda paintings about the Party. At that time, the artist not only truly completes his mission, but also becomes a soldier on the cultural and ideological front.
Jiangnan
Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/van-hoa/tranh-co-dong-ve-dang-149231.html
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