The two-day exhibition, initiated by artist Tran Nhat Thang, aims tocommemorate national heroic martyrs. The exhibits will then be burnt in amemorial ceremony.
The idea came to Thang about 20 years ago when he was reading the novel Sorrow of War by Bao Ninh.
When Thang first visited the Truong Son Cemetery in 2007 and2010, he witnessed war veterans expressing deep gratitude to their latecomrades-in-arms. He then decided that on his third visit to thecemetery he would do something to commemorate the martyrs.
“I’m hoping that the exhibition will not just be for the 10,000martyrs in the Truong Son cemetery but also for all martyrs in the wholecountry,” said Thang.
A graduate from the HanoiFine Art University ’s Faculty of Graphic Art and a member of theVietnam Fine Art Association, he has submitted many solo works todomestic exhibitions, as well as exhibitions in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Japan.
Thang has receivednearly 100 pieces from artists who wish to have their art displayed inthe exhibition, and he is still welcoming contributions from artists.
Artist Le Tri Dung, who operated a tank about 40 years ago, was thefirst to send in his paintings entitled Dioxin Forest; Gio Linh’sFemale Guerilla; Portrait of Soldier and Homeland Lotus.
Dung took part in a battle in Quang Tri in 1972 where he had an injuryto his right knee which to this day still leaves him with a pain in hisleg. “I’m glad to have my four paintings burn in honour of mycomrades-in-arms who selflessly sacrificed their own lives for thenational independence,” said Dung.
Many artists,including both veterans and young artists, from every corner of thenation are contributing pieces of art of different genres to theexhibition. Among them are Quach Dong Phuong, Tran Hoang Co, Dang DucThanh, Nguyen Tuan, Nguyen Son and Dinh Quan.
NguyenTuan is a sculptor and will send large statues to the cemetery. The HoChi Minh City-based Nguyen Son will send his special collage works tothe exhibition for which he used silver and black coloured paper.
Dinh Quan has produced two paintings of Buddha for the exhibition. “Ihighly appreciate this initiative by Thang and I believe it should bemaintained. I chose to paint Buddha because I want to pray for themartyrs’ souls,” said Quan.
Thang will display histhree latest artworks that depict the lotus flower at the exhibition.The lotus bears a spiritual and religious symbolism in Buddhism and hehopes that his pieces will act as a prayer for the martyrs’ souls torest in peace.
The paintings will be placed in blackand white frames then suspended from trees with white ribbons in themain area of the cemetery. The artworks will be burnt at 5pm on April7.-VNA