The murals portray typical images of Da Lat City, like windows decorated with flowers. (Photo: VNA)Da Lat (VNS/VNA) - An old street in Da Lat city in the central highlandsprovince of Lam Dong has been given a new artistic coat of over 30 murals,transforming it into an attractive destination in Vietnam’s 'city of flowers'.
Doc Ba Lang Art Street started to welcome its first visitors on December 19 aspart of the 8th Da Lat Flower Festival, which is taking place in Da Lat fromDecember 20-24.
The project aims to honour and preserve the city's beauty through murals andstreet art created by artists from at home and abroad. As a public art project,the street is open to all.
The cost of the project has been funded by various sources as part of the PhoBen Doi (City on Hills) community art programme, and the murals will be managedby local authorities.
Doc Nha Lang was known as Nguyen Bieu street before 1953, but locals andtourists refer to it by the old name.
According to the organisers, the murals were selected from 250 artworks byyoung painters domestic and international artists.
The transformation of the old moss-covered walls into lively beautiful artworkshas taken tourists and locals by surprise. People used to take Doc Ba Lang as ashort cut, but now they take their time to enjoy the outdoor artworks.
“We have been living in this city for years, getting used to the old houses andstreets. Now the whole street has been enlivened with the appearance ofartworks by young painters, which makes us very happy,” Tran Ngoc Thai Anhsaid.
The murals portray stories and typical images of Da Lat city, like the daySwiss-French Doctor Alexandre Yersin discovered Da Lat, typical flowers of theCentral Highlands, windows decorated with flowers, and young ladies wearingsweaters on their way to school.
“The artists are hoping to inspire more community-oriented activities,” said architectDoan Anh Khoa, a member of the City on Hills art community.
“As Vietnam’s first annual, inter- and multidisciplinary community artprogramme, City on Hills wants to transform Da Lat into a top culturaldestination in Southeast Asia, raising public awareness about urbanpreservation, environmental protection and sustainable development,” he added.
The murals have attracted an increasing number of tourists, particularly youngsters, to Doc Ba Lang Street. According to Tran Thi Vu Loan, vice chairwoman of the city's People’sCommittee, the launch of the project took place on Doc Lang An as steep streetwith its old houses preserved many memories of the city, and was suitable toshowcase artworks in an outdoor gallery.
Besides the murals, City on Hills will also organise other events including anexhibition of sketches, a conference on heritage preservation and street musicto entertain visitors and locals during the Da Lat Flower Festival./.
VNA
