Painting mountains, nurturing love

An outdoor painting session by a group of artists with the participation of local people.

Meet the clouds of memories

One afternoon in Ta Xua not long ago, the clouds were like a giant shawl hanging from the sky, covering everything, undulating like ocean waves every time the wind blew down the valley.

When the houses gradually disappeared into the mist, amidst the smell of kitchen smoke, beside the boiling teapot, we met Mr. Nguyen Thanh Kien, full of warmth and enthusiasm to welcome guests from afar. In the blink of an eye, he has been a citizen of this place for more than 10 years, starting after field trips, writing articles for the press and then "the clouds hold people back" as he humorously said.

Kien stayed, built a small tea shop, restored the traditional craft of making tea with cast iron pans of the local people and became a connecting factor for artists and community art activities such as with "May Thang Nam".

Now he is standing at the art exhibition in the heart of Hanoi , silently looking at each work as if reliving memories of the past: terraced fields stained with sunlight, mountain slopes blurred in the afternoon smoke, children laughing sideways on the porch of a stilt house...

When asked which painting he liked best, he smiled: “I love them all because they are extremely genuine moments. More importantly, after events like this, dilapidated houses will be repaired, disadvantaged children will be able to go to school, and people’s dinners will have more delicious food.”

Mr. Kien has spent money and effort to build a communal stilt house for artists, filmmakers, and photographers to stay and create. In addition to creating a creative space, the artist groups also foster a more vibrant community life with the “Football in the Clouds” tournament and the “Pipe in the Clouds” cultural activities.

Since then, there have been quiet works that Nguyen Thanh Kien and artist groups have contributed to the community: In 2024, they contributed funds to repair more than 60 house foundations for people in the highlands; this year, the goal is to repair some works at kindergartens, support school supplies and necessities for children in difficult circumstances in the villages: Ta Xua, Be, Mong Vang, Tro A.

During his field trips and creative activities, the artist also opened drawing classes for children, so that they could see the world through the eyes of color, hope and nurture their dreams. “Children here may not know who the artist is, but they know how to draw clouds, draw their mothers carrying their children to the fields, knowing that life can be beautiful,” artist Vu Thuy Mai emotionally shared. They share the same feeling: The most important thing is that when they are far away from this place, their hearts are still filled with love like white clouds.

Bring beauty back...

In the artists’ stories, mountain creation is no longer about searching for beautiful scenery but rather about sharing. A significant portion of the profits from sold works will be sent back to the highlands - where children still carry their books over rocky slopes and lack warm clothes in winter.

“We don’t call it charity, we just want beauty to return to where it was born,” artist Tran Cuong said.

Over the years, he and his wife have had many opportunities to visit the highlands, creating and cultivating together. Behind the simplicity is a new spirit: Art can only develop sustainably when it knows how to connect with human life.

Art can only develop sustainably when it is associated with human life.

The group model of creative work, companionship and sharing initiated by positive factors such as Mr. Nguyen Thanh Kien not only helps artists expand their creative range, but also forms a new professional culture when artists learn together and create social value together.

Not stopping at small projects, artist groups coming to Ta Xua are operating according to an open model, without boundaries between those who came first or later, between professional artists or art lovers. Each year, the group has more members from many different regions. The groups take turns taking on the roles of coordination, fundraising, and implementation, thanks to which the spirit of "those who come sow - those who stay to take care - those who come later reap the fruits" is continued naturally and sustainably.

Director Dao Thanh Hung also found an interesting story in the journey of making the film “Football Field in the Clouds”. In the film, the H'Mong boys love football among the clouds and mountains, listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the ancient tea hills, and feel the warmth of the simple life in the highlands of Son La .

During his long time working there, the director repeatedly went up the rocky slopes with a heart full of respect for the culture of the highlands. For him, the football field is the aspiration for a beautiful life and the rise of the people of the mountainous region. The film was later selected to be shown on many international channels, bringing the image of Ta Xua to the world.

Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association Phung Quang Thang said that another solution that can be considered is to build an online sharing network to help creative groups update their projects and call on the community to join. When technology is combined with art and kindness, resources will expand to thousands, millions of people working together. Art schools, non-profit organizations, businesses, etc. can all accompany, sponsor, or send art volunteers to participate in community creative activities.

The clouds still drift as if they have never stopped, embracing each mountain slope, the rustic houses in the blue sky. Perhaps, the highlands of Ta Xua are also smiling in the clouds, because the people who come here bring with them talent and kind hearts.

Article and photos: MAI LU

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ve-mien-nui-uom-mam-yeu-thuong-post921552.html