Historical storyteller through reliefs

Chau Tram Anh with the work he devoted himself to

Chau Tram Anh always researches and creates about the land and people of Binh Duong as a passion for telling stories about her homeland through the art of sculpture.

He said that he has loved drawing and sculpting since he was a child, even though he was born into a farming family. Images of bamboo hedges, rice fields, village roads, kites flying in the wind, and animals close to farmers such as buffalo, cows, horses, dogs, etc. are always present in his drawings and clay sculptures.

Growing up, his works gradually depicted simple villagers, stories about craft villages, and historical stories of a heroic land.

His tireless training combined with his talent helped him graduate as valedictorian of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts in the 2005-2010 class. He is currently working at Binh Duong Cultural Fine Arts College, but still devotes time to his passion for creation. With his constant efforts in research, creation and continuous winning of many valuable awards, Chau Tram Anh was admitted to the Binh Duong Literature and Arts Association in 2011; a member of the sculpture major of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and an associate member of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association in 2012.

There is a creative field that he focuses on with all his respect and gratitude for the land and people of Binh Duong, for the sacrifices of his predecessors, which is the theme of national history, portraits of revolutionary heroes. History, with its majesty but also its poetic beauty, is itself a work of art. With this concept, Chau Tram Anh breathes life into the historical documents that he reads, thus creating works of artistic value. Soldiers who sacrificed for the Fatherland, heroic Vietnamese mothers, or even each period of national history are all sources of inspiration for his creations.

In recognition of Chau Tram Anh's contributions to the province, in 2020, the Provincial Literature and Arts Association published the book ART Chau Tram Anh, recording his works during his creative process. With the talent and passion of an artist, Chau Tram Anh will certainly contribute many more impressive works of art.

In the relief section, Chau Tram Anh is most impressed with the 5 terracotta reliefs - War Zone D, Binh Duong (designed and constructed in 2020). The reliefs record the heroic historical stories of the people here. They are the Fighting Village of 5 communes (Tan Hoa, My Loc, Tan Tich, Thuong Long, Lac An); The Battle of Ba Kien Bridge Watchtower; The Battle of Phuoc Thanh (September 17 and 18, 1961); The Battle of Bong Trang - Nha Do (December 24, 1966); The historic flood of the year Nham Thin (1952). The reliefs vividly depict the people and landscape of War Zone D, a time of hard work and heroism. Only by being proud of the history and heroic traditions of the people of one's hometown can one put one's soul and emotions into such a work.

Meanwhile, the relief at the Provincial Museum (construction in 2022) is a miniature image of Binh Duong from the landscape, craft villages, and people of Binh Duong through the ages, vividly depicted in the work of a sculptor who is always dedicated to his work. Talking about the relief creation, Chau Tram Anh said he is "very proud and honored that the provincial leaders trust and assign him to sketch and construct". These are works of great historical significance, recording the feats and sacrifices of our army and people through two resistance wars to gain freedom for the nation. “This is a relief complex recreating the feats and revolutionary wars of the army and people of Binh Duong - Song Be. This is also the largest terracotta work in the country to date, on the theme of modern revolutionary war. The artistic value is the use of simultaneous, stylized, and exaggerated artistic techniques to highlight the focus of the content expressed in the relief,” Chau Tram Anh shared.

Mr. Ngo Phuoc Chanh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, said that Chau Tram Anh is one of the members who always researches and creates to have many works rich in application as well as artistic features. With her teaching job, Chau Tram Anh always enthusiastically guides her students, but he is also strict to "train" the juniors. He also directs his passion for historical writing to the younger generation and always encourages and motivates talented students who are willing to learn to progress in this interesting world of fine arts.

Chau Tram Anh's achievements in recent years:

- 2021: Vinh Long Monument - A land of talented people, was selected for construction.

- 2022: Portrait of Nguyen Sinh Sac (bronze) - Second prize, Training Equipment Model Competition organized every 3 years by the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs and second prize by the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs. Long-haired Army Monument - Second prize, Ma Ke Monument - Second prize in the competition organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ben Tre province.

- 2023: Southern Love Song (white stone) - second prize, National Sculpture Competition and Exhibition in Hanoi. Binh Duong New City Convergence and Development (synthesis) - second prize, Binh Duong Fine Arts Competition and Exhibition.

QUYNH NHU

Source: https://baobinhduong.vn/nguoi-ke-chuyen-lich-su-qua-nhung-buc-phu-dieu-a345092.html