Every Saturday, the free drawing class “Sound of Painting” located in a small alley on Nguyen Kiem Street (Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City) welcomes special students. All of them are hearing impaired and have a passion for painting.

Artist Vo Van Y, the founder of the drawing class, found it very difficult at first. The teacher did not know sign language, and the students could neither hear nor speak. Luckily, the students could read and write, so the teacher and students communicated with each other through writing. "It's amazing that my teacher and I have been together for 7 years," said teacher Y, looking at his students with love in his voice.

Diligently instructing each student from color mixing, perspective to expression, teacher Y does not use conventional art training methods, but allows students to freely choose topics and express themselves in their own way.

For him, the children may not be able to hear, but painting is a magical sound, using strokes to express their feelings. “Deaf and mute children often feel inferior and depressed. I want to use painting as a way, a language of communication to remove that barrier, helping them have enough courage, confidence, integrate into the community, overcome their fate, live and work like normal people” – Mr. Y confided.

The paintings of natural landscapes, portraits, peaceful villages… with bright, beautiful colors by deaf artists all seem to contain the burning dreams of teachers and students for a bright tomorrow.

A work of "artists"

According to Ms. Le Thi Minh Loan, Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, this is a meaningful and practical activity, bringing many values ​​to the disabled community. The class not only helps develop the painting talent of disabled children but also helps them to be confident in making a living from their profession. The class is also an opportunity for them to have a job, forgetting the difficulties they encounter.

All students of the “Sound of Painting” class are recognized by the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association as disabled artists. Through the exhibitions, some paintings have been sold. With the proceeds, the class has donated 25% to charity in many places, helping many difficult lives in the spirit of compassion and sharing; 50% belongs to the author; the remaining 25% is used to continue to support the class.