Literature and art in Tuy Phong

Việt Nam•07/12/2023

Over the 40-year journey of formation and development of the Binh Thuan Literature and Arts Association, the Tuy Phong Literature and Arts Branch has also just celebrated its 20th anniversary. With its strengths in the fields of Literature and Artistic Photography, it has garnered acclaim through each of its works.

Perhaps the climate of Tuy Phong, a land that has served as the northernmost point of Binh Thuan province for over 200 years, has influenced the will, character, and even the soul and compassion of its people. I was fortunate to participate in compiling the work "Literature of the Resistance in Binh Thuan" (Binh Thuan Literature and Arts Association - 2020), and through his posthumous writings, I learned about the late writer and martyr Yen Hy Ba (Le Duy Hien - from Chi Cong) and his talent in writing memoirs during the resistance. I was also captivated by the documents when reading the book "Geography of Phan Ri Cua," published by the Writers' Association in 2015, nearly 600 pages long. In the section on literary, poetic, and musical works of Phan Ri Cua, the mention of Phanri Port - an old town of Tuy Phong district - filled me with astonishment and emotion. Among the authors listed in the appendix are screenwriter Pham Thuy Nhan, whose films are so famous, closely associated with the sunny, windy, and sandy coastal region that is also his hometown. And writer Doan Thach Bien, who before 1975 was from a distant place, once taught here, but whose emotions are still fully expressed in many of his literary works…

Members of the Tuy Phong Literature and Arts Branch Association went on a field trip to Ha Tien for creative writing – visiting the Mac Cuu Temple.

It's impossible to forget the poet Huynh Huu Vo, originally from Tuy Phong (deceased), who left behind poems full of heartfelt love for his homeland, both before and after 1975. He had two published poetry collections, but his collection "January Wind Blows Like Smoke" (1998), which won the B prize at the Duc Thanh Poetry Contest in 2000, left a very unique impression. Many of his poems have a connection with music ; there are up to 100 songs set to Huynh Huu Vo's poems (from the collection "Holding Hands on the Wind" - 2014)... Like To Duy Thach, although they are gone, their contributions have secured a place in the provincial literary scene, with their timeless poems about their homeland.

With its later members, this article only covers the 5-year period of the Binh Thuan Literature and Arts Congress term (2018-2023), which is also the term of the Tuy Phong Branch, excluding the year affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, the branch has 20 members, including 8 photographers… In reality, most are in their 60s and 80s… but they still regularly contribute to literary and poetic works on provincial literary forums and exhibitions.

Over the past five years, the Tuy Phong Literature and Arts Association has made a significant contribution to the province's creative activities. These include insightful and reflective works, resulting in two meticulously produced novels: one by Nguyen Phuong ("The Story of a Beggar" - August 2019) and another by Ho Viet Khue ("Fishing Village, Waves and Wind" - November 2023). Ho Viet Khue, in particular, quietly set a record with two collections of short stories ("Days of Changing Winds" - 2021 and "Warm Hands Still Fragrant" - 2022). The poetry collections by authors who have poured their hearts into each word include Tran Yen The, Thai Thi Ngan Khang, Duong Hoang Huu, Pham Binh, Nguyen Duy Sinh, and To Duy Thach (deceased). Notably, Nguyen Duy Sinh won the C Prize in the Duc Thanh Literature and Arts competition for the second time (for his poetry collection "Eyes of the Wind in Reincarnation"), and Duong Hoang Huu won first prize in the Binh Thuan Literature and Arts magazine's poetry competition. This is a rare subject area, and Kinh Duy Trinh - a member, teacher, and textbook translator - has translated two volumes of Cham folk tales from the original ancient Cham texts into Vietnamese (B Prize - Duc Thanh Literature and Arts 2023).

I believe in my subjective opinion that the literary force of the Tuy Phong branch is truly strong, consistent, and possesses an ability that will never age. The language style in their works (novels, short stories) is unique to each author, always reflecting a subtle and poignant understanding of a humane society and human relationships. And their poems are filled with smooth, shimmering nostalgia, imbued with the bittersweet flavors of their homeland.

In the field of photography, each photographer must put in a lot of effort and research the subject matter to gain perspectives that are meaningful and artistically valuable. Currently, the branch has 6 members of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Art. During the past term, the field of photography continued to achieve many significant results. Specifically, the awards from Binh Thuan province included: 1 first prize (Beauty of the Homeland), 1 second prize (Tuy Phong Mossy Beach). Central-level awards included: 1 national exhibition and 1 exhibition at the General Department of Fine Arts.

Members with successful works include Huynh Trong Lan: third prize (Colors of Binh Thuan), national exhibition (Going to the fields and taking care of children). Le Minh Ngoc had two works exhibited in the Southeast region. Pham Hoai Phuong won third prize for Forest at the Southeast region photo festival, an international GBU honorable mention (Eyes), and international exhibition (Motherly love)... Le Nam, with his youthful energy and creative spirit, had 6 works exhibited at the national exhibition, 23 photos selected for the Southeast region festival, 1 outstanding Heritage award, 3 awards for Binh Thuan dragon fruit, and second and third prizes in Colors of Binh Thuan. Participating in the international competition, Le Nam rightfully earned the "Golden Lens" award with 4 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 4 bronze medals, and 10 honorable mentions. The photographic works of the members of the Tuy Phong Branch of the Association of Literature and Arts will have the opportunity to spread and promote vivid and authentic images of the land and people of Tuy Phong to the world and internationally.

The Tuy Phong branch of the Association of Literature and Arts follows the same regulations as other district and town branches in the province. The organizational system regarding investment only extends from the central government to the provincial and major city levels, and management is based on specialized fields (Literature, Music, Fine Arts, Photography, Theater, etc.). Therefore, the operating budget of the local branch relies on support, mainly for local cultural events. Aware of the regulations on state budget management, the Tuy Phong branch of the Association of Literature and Arts has taken advantage of the guidance of relevant departments and agencies within the permitted limits, thus maintaining its activities. First and foremost, "practicality is essential to upholding principles"—meaning persuasiveness through activities and artistic products. Thanks to this, the Tuy Phong Anthology of Literature and Arts is published annually during the Lunar New Year celebration. The anthology's criteria are to ensure that the content reflects the new face of the local area's development process, while also providing a vibrant literary and artistic space for the works of the branch association members.

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