Exhibition “tradition of studiousness” featured 50 works from 44 authors painted from the years after 1945 until present using ground material of oil painting, lacquer, silk, woodcarving, watercolor, wood, plaster , cast iron, of which many works were introduced to the public for the first time, the exhibition honored the nation’s fine tradition of studiousness, aroused pride, and encouraged the younger generation to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors to become the true future owner of the country.
The work “Lớp trung học đầu tiên” by painter Diep Minh Chau (pencil, 1948)
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh always paid special attention to education. On September 15, 1945, in a letter to schoolchildren on the occasion of the first new school year in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, he wrote: “Whether Vietnam would become prosperous and the Vietnamese nation would stand proudly as equals to major powers of the five continents, are much predicated upon your study”.
The movement “Bình dân học vụ (mass education) with the goal of eradicating ignorance, combating illiteracy, etc. launched by him was the first, important and oriented steps of the Provisional Government of Vietnam for the continuation of the learning tradition regardless of age, ethnicity or region. The artworks have realistically and vividly depicted this historical period such as Lớp trung học đầu tiên (Diep Minh Chau), Lớp học bình dân làng Bền (Tran Van Can), Bủ Đường biết đọc (To Ngoc Van), Đi học bình dân (Le Cong Thanh), etc.
The work “Lớp học bình dân” by painter Nguyen The Vinh (color engraving, 1961.)
The work “Lớp 5 dưới lòng đất” by painter Ngo Ton De (pencil, 1967)
The brutal war did not prevent the development of education. Although the school had to be evacuated, even studying in the basement, the study was always concerned and widely deployed, which was shown through the works: Lớp học miền núi (Hoang Dao Khanh), Lớp 5 dưới lòng đất (Ngo Ton De), Lớp học bổ túc ở Tây Nguyên (Nguyen The Vinh), Giờ học văn hóa nữ du kích Củ Chi (Dao Huu Phuoc), Giúp đỡ bạn (carrying a friend on back to school) (Dao Van Can), Đi học đêm (Nguyen The Minh), etc.
The work “Học thêu” by painter Vi Kien Thanh (wood carving, 2004)
The work “Nhà trẻ” by painter Nguyen Kim Dong (lacquer painting, 1993)
When the country is at peace, unification, the study is expanded, not only learning knowledge at school, but also exchanging experiences between colleagues, transferring knowledge and skills from the previous generations to later those, etc. which all are vividly expressed through the painting style of generations of artists.
The exhibition “Tradition of studiousness” is open from August 31 to September 11, 2022. During the exhibition, there will be a talk show and exchange program with Fine Arts researcher Nguyen Hai Yen.
M.T