The propaganda painting "Stop" by the late artist Le Lam is a sacred symbol of the indomitable and resilient spirit of Long An women.

Stop - the image of a strong, indomitable dragon

Among the treasure trove of Vietnamese resistance art, the propaganda painting Stop by the late artist Le Lam is a sacred symbol of the indomitable and resilient spirit of Long An women. The work is based on a true event about the protest of the people of Duc Hoa district to prevent enemy armored vehicles from razing the ripening rice fields. The painting touches the hearts of viewers with the image of a small woman - Ms. Tu Cao - stopping the enemy's armored vehicles with her bare hands.

Ms. Tu Cao’s real name is Vo Thi Cao, born in 1939, living in Duc Hoa district, Long An province. She is a woman who specializes in the profession of “midwife” (delivery attendant). With a simple, petite appearance, limping, and chewing betel, she is full of courage, daring to jump in front of enemy vehicles, “spreading her arms and legs and shouting continuously: Stop! Stop!” to prevent them from destroying the crops.

Artist Le Lam used oil paint to convey the heat of the southern battlefield with high columns of smoke, contrasting with the peaceful yellow and green of the southern rice fields. The highlight of the painting is the image of Ms. Tu Cao wearing a brown ao ba ba, a checkered scarf, arms outstretched, facing the armored vehicle head-on. The strong lines, strong colors and tight composition attract viewers.

After its publication, "Dung lang" quickly became a symbol of bravery that spread throughout the North and South. In 1969, when President Ho Chi Minh personally came to see the painting, the work was later printed in millions of copies and appeared in newspapers and exhibitions at home and abroad. Today, at the Long An Museum (belonging to the Provincial Museum - Library), the handwriting of the late painter Le Lam and the comment of the late General Secretary Truong Chinh are still preserved: "Dung lang" not only contributes to recreating the heroic history of the Long An people in particular, of our nation in general, but also clearly demonstrates the spirit of Vietnam".

Peaceful countryside - the simple beauty of Dong Thap Muoi region

After years of fierce war, the Southern land today wears a "coat" of peace - a place with a slow pace of life, gentle nature and kind people. That beauty has become an endless source of inspiration for many artists. Among them, painter Nguyen Tam chose to convey his feelings about the countryside of Dong Thap Muoi in the painting Peaceful Countryside.

Painter Nguyen Tam chose to convey his feelings about the Dong Thap Muoi countryside in the painting "Peaceful Countryside"

Like a sweet, gentle and profound melody, The Peaceful Countryside depicts a lush green space with a peaceful and poetic rhythm of life. The open composition, with no clear ending point, makes the viewer feel like they are sitting under the canopy of a lush green cajuput forest, looking out at the golden fields in the distance. The harmony between the soft light and the delicately processed blue - green - yellow tones creates a visual whole that is both profound and fresh.

The unique feature of Peaceful Countryside lies in the technique of using acrylic paint and space treatment, creating emotional depth. The straight cajuput trees with their characteristic silvery bark are like a natural curtain, opening up a simple living scene: a thatched roof, a few silhouettes, a boat anchored on the shore, chickens walking freely, a small dirt road leading to a distant field. Every detail is small but has the power to evoke the nostalgia, love, and childhood memories of those who have been attached to the rivers of the South.

According to artist Nguyen Tam, the scenery in the painting was distilled from his field trips to Thanh Hoa, Tan Thanh, Moc Hoa, Kien Tuong, etc. It was the overwhelming emotion about the countryside that was so peaceful and full of life that made him put pen to paper to create this work of art. Without a main character, without a dramatic story, The Peaceful Countryside is still full of attraction thanks to its simplicity and familiarity.

The work was awarded the C Prize at the 29th Mekong Delta Regional Fine Arts Exhibition VIII, 2024. In the context of modern art tending towards the strange and unconventional, Peaceful Countryside brings viewers back to traditional beauty, to a story of the countryside originating from a passionate love for the Southern land.

Spring is coming - belief in new beginnings

In the constant flow of time, Long An homeland is not only a source of return, but also a symbol of positive change and hope for the future. In the moment when spring is knocking on the door of Tan An city, photographer Kieu Oanh has captured that beauty with a creative perspective in the work Spring Returns.

The photo "Spring is Coming" by photographer Kieu Oanh recreates the beauty of Tan An City in spring.

For photographer Kieu Oanh, spring in her hometown is not only a time but also filled with pride when seeing the city changing day by day, becoming more friendly, modern, and still in harmony with nature. The photo Spring is selected by the artist from many photos after test flights with the flycam, watching the light and waiting for the ideal moment.

Looking at the photo, the special X-shaped layout is formed by the intersection of the Vam Co Tay River and Hung Vuong Street leading into the city. The tight layout creates visual balance and opens up living spaces that harmonize between modernity and nature in the city.

According to photographer Kieu Oanh, she wanted to evoke the image of the Lac bird: a symbol of the desire for freedom, enduring vitality and faith in the future through this composition.

The colors in the photo are skillfully processed, ensuring both freshness and gentleness of the Southern spring. The green patches of trees, the yellow and red of the Tet flower market blend with the early morning sunlight spreading evenly on the roofs, canals, ... as if blowing up a fresh, bustling, and close atmosphere. Tan An City appears in the frame not as a noisy urban area but as a youthful, civilized, and friendly city, where development always goes hand in hand with preserving traditional values ​​and natural landscapes.

The work won the First Prize at the 35th My Homeland Long An Art Photography Contest in 2023 organized by the Provincial Literature and Arts Association in coordination with the Provincial Photography Association. Spring is not only an art photo but also a place where the artist expresses his deep love for his homeland. Long An appears through each work not only with its beautiful landscape but also with its cultural depth. No matter what shape it takes, the homeland will always retain its familiar values, imprinted in the hearts of many generations./.

Hoang Lan

Source: https://baolongan.vn/long-an-qua-lang-kinh-nghe-thuat-a194393.html