Without formal training from an early age, Nguyen Tam’s path to becoming an artist was a long and challenging one. From a young age, he showed his artistic talent through his innocent drawings on student exercise books, sometimes of a map of Vietnam, sometimes of biological illustrations, or simply of “dragon and snake” drawings in the style of comic books.

Although he cherished the dream of studying architecture, due to lack of conditions to practice drawing, painter Nguyen Tam had to temporarily put his dream on hold. However, he did not give up but continued to explore and learn, attending intermediate level in Dong Nai province and returning to work at Long An Cultural and Art Center. This environment became the "launching pad" that helped him continue his passion for painting and gradually assert his position in the art world.

Painter Nguyen Tam (2nd from left) is currently the Head of the Provincial Fine Arts Association, specializing in creating paintings about the countryside of Long An.

The real turning point came when he studied and graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts and became a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. Since then, he has maintained a steady composition with about 3-4 works per year, constantly researching and experimenting to fully convey the depth of emotion in each of his works.

Currently, painter Nguyen Tam is the Chairman of the Fine Arts Association of Long An Province . In the heart of the "storyteller" through lines and colors, Long An is not only his birthplace but also the spiritual material that makes up the soul of his paintings.

With A Peaceful Day, Quiet Countryside, Countryside Corner or Summer Fragrance, his works are like delicate slices of the Dong Thap Muoi region. The artist shared: “This place is a blend of wild nature and the peaceful, simple life of the people. Every time I stand before the scenery of my homeland, I feel more peaceful when I listen to the whispering sounds of the land, of the wind, of simple but poetic things.”

In his creative journey, artist Nguyen Tam was deeply influenced by the famous Russian painter Isaac Levitan - a master of landscape painting in the late 19th century. He was especially impressed by the image of rows of birch trees, the emotional realistic painting style and the deep love for his homeland that was always present in Levitan's paintings. These factors strongly influenced the way Nguyen Tam approached painting, sought inspiration, chose his perspective, and expressed his emotions through each stroke.

He always believes that when faced with a beautiful scene, an artist needs to have enough courage to actively filter the beauty of nature, create a painting that carries the breath of the region and conveys his message. It is this romantic perspective that helps him create emotional works of art , making viewers not only "see" but also "feel" the soul of the countryside in every color and line.

Over many years of dedication, painter Nguyen Tam won many valuable awards at the Regional Fine Arts Exhibition VIII such as the C prize (2024), the Third prize (2002), the Encouragement prize (2007), and was honored at the National Fine Arts Exhibition.

He was also awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Provincial People's Committee for his positive contributions to the development of local literature and arts in the period 2015-2020.

The love for the homeland in Nguyen Tam's paintings is not noisy, not sad, but calm, passionate, loyal to the land and people. With his talent and passion, the artist not only contributes to enriching the province's art but also spreads beautiful emotions about Long An land to the public./.

Hoang Lan

Source: https://baolongan.vn/nguon-cam-hung-sang-tao-tu-tinh-yeu-que-huong-a193436.html