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| The work "Cham Pottery" by artist Hoang Phuoc |
Not only stopping in Nha Trang City, some artists have ventured to nearby provinces, such as Phan Rang, Dam Nai (Ninh Thuan), Van Gia, Ninh Hoa, Van Ninh (Khanh Hoa), Dong Hoa, Tuy An (Phu Yen) … to diversify their practical experiences and gain more creative inspiration. Photographers Vinh Huong (71 years old) and Hoang Phuoc (67 years old), despite their age, rented motorbikes to travel more than 100 kilometers daily to visit salt fields, Cham pottery villages, weaving workshops, sheep pastures, and bays in Nha Trang, Phu Yen… to capture beautiful light moments and meaningful frames.
Painter Dang Mau Triet completed 10 paintings on the theme of the sea with series such as “Sea Love,” “Wave Love,” and “Sea Rhythms” during the camp. It is no surprise that Dang Mau Triet painted quickly and prolifically in his camp participations, but completing 10 works related to the theme of the sea truly impressed his colleagues in Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan (who also had 15 artists participating in this camp). Sculptor Le Ngoc Thai welded and forged under the midday sun for several days to complete three sculptures “Life Stream, Birth, Rebirth,” which is a commendable effort.
Poet Nguyen Lam Thang completed a manuscript of 20 poems titled “Holding the Sea in Hand,” which is truly a highlight of the Nha Trang Creative Camp. A verse from the poem “Holding the Sea in Hand” below evokes the breath of love in the love of the country:
“Tonight
Nha Trang, you and me
The autumn is fragrant with the scent of the full moon
Moments of peace
And arousal
We hold the sea in our hands
Hearing the waves crashing inside”
These lines have inspired musicians to create. Composer Tinh My has set many of Nguyen Lam Thang’s poems to music, such as “Grain and Rice,” “Hon Chong in the Absence of You,” and “A Lazy Afternoon on the Sea” ...
Playwrights from the Theatre Artists Association have produced many good scripts. People's Artist Ngoc Binh has nearly finished the play "Confession," addressing post-war issues that are still troubling today. But above all is the human affection, national sentiment, and the comradeship... in building the country today. Artist Le Sinh also completed two tuong scripts “Trung Sisters” and the stage play “Code Name: Thanh Tra Fruit,” praising the patriotism and the spirit of national independence of our people.
Le Tat Dinh has “Sowing the Wind, Reaping the Storm” with the message: “Under the leadership of the Party and the State, the fight against corruption is ongoing, with no exceptions. We need unity in perception, will, and action across the entire political system and society; persistently fighting against corruption, building, and reorganizing the Party and political system; and strengthening people's confidence in the revolutionary cause under the Party’s leadership.” The script “Sowing the Wind, Reaping the Storm” uses historical allegories to reflect today’s negative events, delivering a fair verdict of justice.
Choreographer Nguyen Thi Hien completed the script for the dance work “A Time of Flames,” reminiscing about the heroic years against the Americans, for peace, and the building and development of the country today. Researcher Nguyen The completed the research project: “Village Culture of Thua Thien Hue - A Perspective from Migration History,” providing a historical view of village formation in Thua Thien Hue.
Researcher Phan Thuan Thao has a work “Preserving the Ba Trao Chant in the Ritual Environment in the South Central Coast.” After highlighting the values of the Ba Trao chant in the South Central Coast’s rituals, he warned, “The current issue is the trend of urbanization of Vietnamese villages, including coastal villages in the South Central Coast, which has and is greatly affecting the spiritual beliefs of local people. This will greatly impact the future existence of the Ba Trao chant,” and proposed: “While it is not too late, it is necessary to maintain its performance environment so that the Ba Trao chant can continue to be nurtured in the hope of peaceful and prosperous fishing seasons.”
With the creative works and research projects carried out very seriously and meticulously, this is the clearest evidence showing that the 2024 Nha Trang Literary and Artistic Creative Camp of the Thua Thien Hue Union of Literature and Arts Associations has been very successful. In addition to the initial 79 works compiled, some works are being edited and completed for the final results.
Ms. Do Thi Mai Huong, Director of the Nha Trang Art Creation House, has closely followed the creative process of the Thua Thien Hue artists. Ms. Mai Huong was very surprised by the working and creative efforts of the artists, especially the painter Dang Mau Triet and the songs of the musician Tinh My. She said: “It is truly delightful to witness a dedicated team and see each work gradually perfecting right before our eyes.”
The Thua Thien Hue Union of Literature and Arts Associations is planning to select some works from this creative period to participate in a commemorative book celebrating 50 years of literature and arts since the country's reunification, 1975-2025.