The art scene in Ha Nam lacks breakthroughs.

Fine arts is one of the most stable and outstanding forms of literature and art in Ha Nam province today. However, in recent years, due to various influencing factors, Ha Nam's fine arts have not yet achieved a breakthrough, especially at regional exhibitions in the Red River Delta.

Each person has their own path.

At over 70 years old, artist Do Kich still regularly creates and participates in regional exhibitions every year with his son, artist Do Thang. His strength lies in large-scale oil paintings. While previously he was passionate about and dedicated to revolutionary war themes, he has now shifted his focus to rural life. In fact, when it comes to revolutionary war themes, no one in the Ha Nam Association of Literature and Arts surpasses him, both in terms of the number of works and awards. But now, at the age of "seventy years old," his health is no longer as robust and agile as before, so he returns to themes closer to life. Nevertheless, his accumulated professional experience, skill, and life experience allow him to sit in one place and paint as he wishes, while still maintaining his style and mastering color blending techniques with great inspiration.

The art scene in Ha Nam lacks breakthroughs. — **Artist Le Huy Tiep (left in the photo) and artist Nguyen Ngan visit the 2022 Red River Delta Regional Fine Arts Exhibition in Ha Nam.** Photo: Chu Uyen

As for painter Nguyen Ngan, this is a shining moment in his career. Busy with his management work in the field of culture and arts, Nguyen Ngan still doesn't waste time; he seizes every minute to work and complete his own paintings. While enjoying the experience of oil and acrylic paintings, he is also passionately and diligently dedicated to wood carving. The ideas blending tradition and modernity in Nguyen Ngan's works make his life and work more radiant. Nguyen Ngan said: “I have my own path, and that is what every artist needs to explore and create breakthroughs. However, within the limitations of life, work, and myself, sometimes my creations are still constrained, bland in content and quality. It's fortunate that the artist is not yet satisfied with that!”

Among the prominent young artists, Tran Phong has gradually integrated into the life and creative atmosphere of the Ha Nam Association of Literature and Arts. Currently, he is a lecturer at the Vietnam Fine Arts University. Tran Phong chooses woodblock printing as his medium to express his ideas. These ideas are a perspective on nature and the movement of the universe through everyday transformations. He shows viewers the subtlety in his perception and expression, from composition, lines, light, and the boldness of each engraved stroke in his paintings. Woodblock printing is inherently selective in terms of collectors and buyers, posing significant challenges for young artists. But Tran Phong is not deterred; he paints with his heart, with genuine emotion for life and love of nature, and with unwavering dedication!

Le Thi Luong, however, remains faithful to her choice of using silk as her medium for painting. Silk captivates her, allowing her to forget the hustle and bustle of the outside world and freely create about the lives, activities, and play spaces of children and students. She seems to exclusively choose this theme for her artwork, participating in regional exhibitions annually.

Le Thi Luong, Pham Van Hoa, Nguyen Thi Sao… like other artists, have always chosen a path, defining a direction for many years without tiring. In regional exhibitions, their works haven't truly broken through compared to their peers. Some suddenly realize they are walking on a well-worn path! Because, the highest award for artworks from Ha Nam participating in the Exhibition is only a C prize (in the last 5 years). Last year, despite the significant advantage of holding the Exhibition in Ha Nam, only 3 of the artists' works received the Encouragement Prize. This year, the exhibition is held in Hung Yen , and Ha Nam has one woodblock print, "Making a Living," by artist Nguyen Ngan, which was awarded a C prize (there was no A prize).

Lack of breakthroughs

If we analyze the factors affecting the creative work of painters in Ha Nam over the past few years, which have not led to any breakthroughs or outstanding innovations, we will mention talent and the conditions that allow artists to dedicate themselves to their profession. These are objective reasons. However, the main subjective reason is the artists themselves; they seem to choose only one path, following it endlessly, becoming stuck in a rut, and losing their creativity.

At the 2018 Red River Delta Regional Fine Arts Exhibition held in Hai Phong , the late painter Tran Khanh Chuong, then Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, in his speech commenting on the exhibition, pointed out that: “Safety and standards are necessary in creating artworks. However, life is multifaceted and diverse, so sometimes excessive safety and standards limit the creative ability of painters and sculptors. Sometimes, imbalance, absence, tilting here and there create impressive works of art, expressing the artist's intention and bold perspective on the reality of life. Therefore, the visual arts community in the region needs to research and find its own path, making more spectacular breakthroughs in its perspective and expression.”

In reality, the paintings and graphic works featured in the Red River Delta Regional Exhibition over the past few years have lacked artistic breakthroughs, both in language and artistic style. Perhaps that is why the exhibition has rarely awarded a first prize. However, achieving a third prize like Nguyen Ngan did at the Red River Delta Regional Exhibition is no easy feat. On average, Ha Nam province brings nearly 20 works by more than 10 artists to this exhibition each year. The number of works selected for display is only around 10, of which more than half are by members of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

From this objective and realistic perspective, artist Do Kich shared: "We have never faced such difficulties as we do now. The association has been without a new president for several months. Many of the association's activities have been and are being temporarily suspended. To innovate and create breakthroughs, artists need to go on field trips, participate in creative workshops, receive creative support, exchange professional knowledge, and learn from experience… Within the association, we must maintain unity; artists must truly be connected and share with each other, not go their separate ways. Each artist needs to know how to overcome themselves, cultivate their character, and consider the aspiration for artistic creation as a noble purpose to continue contributing and developing their talent. And, not limiting oneself is the requirement for artists in the innovation of fine arts in Ha Nam today."

Jiangnan

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