Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts was established to honor and introduce outstanding artists of the Literature and Arts of the Hồ Chí Minh era. This is the most prestigious award for artists and has always received special attention from society. The award is given to artists in the fields of: Music, literature, theater, fine arts, photography, dance, cinema, folk arts and architecture.
To date, Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts has been awarded 6 stages in 1996, 2000, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2022.
In the field of fine arts alone, 20 artists have been honored to receive Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts.
Stage I presented 8 artists: Tô Ngọc Vân, Nguyễn Sáng, Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm, Trần Văn Cẩn, Bùi Xuân Phái, Nguyễn Đỗ Cung, Nguyễn Phan Chánh, Diệp Minh Châu.
TÔ NGỌC VÂN (1906 – 1954)
Artist Tô Ngọc Vân (1906 – 1954)
Biography:
- Tô Ngọc Vân was born in 1906, December 15
- Hometown: Xuân Cầu, Nghĩa Trụ, Mỹ Văn, Hưng Yên.
- He graduated in Class II (1926 – 1931) Indochina Fine Arts College
- 1933 – 1935: Teaching in Phnom Penh
- 1936: Returned to Việt Nam
- 1939 – 1945: Teaching in Indochina Fine Arts College
- 1946: Participated in the resistance war against France
- 1950: In charge of Fine Arts College during the resistance war
- He has collaborated with newspapers such as: Nhân Dân, Phong Hóa, Ngày Nay, Thanh Nghị under the pen names Tô Tử, Ái Mỹ
- He died in 1954 while participating in Điện Biên Phủ campaign
- Streets in Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Huế City, Quy Nhơn, Vĩnh Yên City, Hải Dương City, Bắc Ninh city and a crater in Mercury are named after him
Celebrated:
- Order of Independence, First class
- Order of Resistance war, Second class
- Certificate of Honor of French Artists Association and Gold Medal of Colonial Exhibition in Paris 1932
- First prize at the 1954 National Fine Arts Exhibition in Hà Nội
Artist Tô Ngọc Vân was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I, 1996, by the State for the following works: President Hồ Chí Minh in the Northern Palace (1946), President Hồ Chí Minh at work (1948), Factory of military weapon (1951), Soldiers taking a break on the hill (1953), Harrowing on the hill (1953), Sketch series of farmers in agrarian land reform (1953), Sketch series of soldiers in the victory of Điện Biên Phủ campaign (1954).
President Hồ Chí Minh in Northern Palace. 1946. Oil. 73 × 95 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
President Hồ Chí Minh at work. 1948. Woodblock print. 49 × 35 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Factory of military weapon. 1951. Oil
Harrowing on the hill. 1953. Gouache
Soldiers taking a break on the hill. 1953. Lacquer. 35 × 43 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Sketch series of farmers in agrarian land reform (1953)
Sketch series of soldiers in the victory of Điện Biên Phủ campaign (1954)
NGUYỄN SÁNG (1923 – 1988)
Artist Nguyễn Sáng (1923 – 1988)
Biography:
- Artist Nguyễn Sáng was born in 1923, August 1
- Hometown: Điều Hòa, Mỹ Tho (now in Tiền Giang)
- He was a student of Gia Định Fine Arts College, class 1936 – 1938, then Indochina Fine Arts College, class XIV (1941 – 1945)
- 1945: Participated in seizing power at the Imperial Envoy Palace in Hà Nội. Drawn propaganda posters, participated in exhibitions celebrating the success of the revolution, and designed banknotes for the Ministry of Finance of the provisional government
- 1946: Stayed in the North to join the resistance war against France
- 1950 – 1952: Worked at Propaganda Board of General Political Department, made victory propaganda lithographs and woodcuts
- 1953 – 1954: Participated in Điện Biên Phủ campaign. Then came to Hà Nội, made a series of lacquer paintings on the topic of the army in Điện Biên Phủ, Cao Bắc Lạng campaign in Việt Bắc
- 1954 – 1986: Lived in Hà Nội
- He died in 1988, December 12
- Streets in Mỹ Tho (Tiền Giang) and Đà Nẵng are named after him
Celebrated:
- Order of Independence, Third Class
- First prize of National Fine Arts Exhibition 1954
Artist Nguyễn Sáng was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I 1996 by the State for the following works: The enemy burned my village (1954), Soldiers taking shelter from the rain (1960), Party admission in Điện Biên Phủ trenches (1964), Bronze wall of the Fatherland (1967 – 1978), Girl and lotus (1972).
The enemy burned my village. 1954. Oil. 85,7 × 129,5 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Soldiers taking shelter from the rain. 1960. Lacquer. 70 × 100 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Bronze wall of the Fatherland. 1967 – 1978. Lacquer. 120× 240 cm. Collection of Hồ Chí Minh City Fine Arts Museum. National Treasure 2013
Party admission in Điện Biên Phủ trenches. 1964. Lacquer. 112,3 × 180 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum. National Treasure 2013
Girl and lotus. 1972. Oil. 94,5 × 128 m. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
NGUYỄN TƯ NGHIÊM (1922 – 2016)
Artist Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm (1922 – 2016)
Biography:
- Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm (pen name: Nghe) was born in 1922, October 20
- Hometown: Nam Trung, Nam Đàn, Nghệ An
- He was a student of Indochina Fine Arts College, class XV (1941 – 1946)
- He joined the revolution in 1945
- Former commissioner of Liberation Committee, Nam Đàn district, Nghệ An province
- 1948 – 1951: In charge of Workshop popularizing Việt Nam Arts Association
- 1957 – 1984: Lecturer of Việt Nam Fine Arts College in Việt Bắc
- Former lecturer of Hà Nội Industrial Fine Arts University
- Commissioner of Executive Committee of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association term I (1957 – 1983)
- Member of retired artist team of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
- He died in 2016, June 15 in Hà Nội
- Streets of Hồ Chí Minh City and Đồng Hới (Quảng Bình) are named after him
Celebrated:
- Order of Resistance war, Second class
- Order of Resistance war against America to save the country, First class
- First prizes of National Fine Arts Exhibitions in 1948, 1990
- Official prize of three-year regular Fine Arts International Exhibition for realistic painting in Sofia – Bulgaria, 1958
- Official prize of First International Fine Arts Exhibition for Painting and Graphic, Hà Nội, 1987
Artist Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I 1996 by the State for the following works: The calf (1957), New year’s Eve (1957), Farmers fighting against taxes (1960), Painting of Gióng (1976), The ancient dance (1983), Saint Gióng (1990).
The calf. 1957. Lacquer. 45,5 × 63 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
The ancient dance. 1970. Lacquer. 50,3 × 75 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Gióng. 1974. Lacquer. 90 × 60 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Gióng II. 1990. Lacquer. 90 × 120 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum. National Treasure
New year’s Eve. 1957. Lacquer. 70,3 × 150,5 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Farmers fighting against taxes. 1960. Lacquer. 100× 150 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
TRẦN VĂN CẨN (1910 – 1994)
Artist Trần Văn Cẩn (1910 – 1994)
Biography:
- Artist Trần Văn Cẩn was born in 1910, August 13 in Kiến An commune (now in Kiến An district, Hải Phòng city)
- Hometown: Tiên Phong, Từ Sơn, Bắc Ninh
- Graduated as valedictorian of Indochina Fine Arts College, class VI (1931 – 1936)
- Was in the positions of: Commisssioner of Executive Committee of Việt Nam Arts Association, General Secretary of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association, term I, Chairman of Việt Nam Artist Association of Visual Art term II, Vice Chairman of Central Committee of Việt Nam Literature and Arts Association, Principal of Việt Nam Fine Arts College (1954 – 1969)
- He died in 1994, July 31 in Hà Nội
- Streets in Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng, Bắc Ninh City are named after him
Celebrated:
- Order of Independence, First class
- Order of Labor, Second class
- Order of Resistance war against America to save the country, Second class
- First prizes of National Fine Arts Exhibitions in 1946, 1960, 1976, 1980
- Title of Teacher of the People
- Corresponding member of the Academy of Fine Arts of the German Democratic Republic
Artist Trần Văn Cẩn was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts Stage I 1996 for the following works: Design for National emblem of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam (1955), Bailing water for the winter fields (1958), Workers of the mine (1960), A female coastal militia (1960), Winter is coming (1961), The boy of the mining land (1965), It’s raining at the river of Kiến Giang (1969).
Design for national emblem of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam. 1955. Ink. 37,5 × 40 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Bailing water for the winter fields. 1958. Lacquer. 60,5 × 92 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
A female coastal militia. 1960. Oil. 60 × 81,5 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
The boy of the mining land. 1965. Lacquer. 54 × 75,6 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Knitting. 1960. Lacquer. 74,8 × 100,2 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
It’s raining at the river of Kiến Giang. 1969. Lacquer. 60 × 82 cm. Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
BÙI XUÂN PHÁI (1920 – 1988)
Artist Bùi Xuân Phái (1920 – 1988)
Biography:
- Artist Bùi Xuân Phái was born in 1920, September 1
- Hometown: The village of Kim Hoàng, Hà Đông, Hà Tây (now is Hà Nội)
- Graduated from Indochina Fine Arts College, class XV (1941 – 1945)
- August of 1945: Participated in the August Revolution in Hà Nội
- 1956 – 1957: Lecturer of Việt Nam Fine Arts College
- Since 1960: Making illustration for Literary weekly of Arts and other newspapers
- 1984: The first and only exhibition in Hà Nội when the artist was living
- He died in 1988, June 24 in Hà Nội
- Streets in Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng City, Hương Thủy commune (Thừa Thiên Huế), Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, Quy Nhơn City, Nam Định City, Bắc Ninh City are named after him
Celebrated:
- Medal for Fine Arts 1997
- Prizes of National Fine Arts Exhibitions in 1946, 1980
- Prize of Leipzig Graphic (Germany) 1982
- Prizes of Capital Fine Arts in 1969, 1981, 1983, 1984
Artist Bùi Xuân Phái was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I, 1996 by the State for the following works: Hà Nội in resistance war (1966), A couple of husband and wife singing chèo (1967), A stage of chèo (1968), Chèo stage makeup (1968), Ox cart in the old quarter (1972), The old quarter of Hà Nội (1972), The quiet street (1981), Before the performance (1984).
A street of Hà Nội. 1946. Oil. 39 × 56 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
The street of Gia Ngư. 1980. Oil. 57,5 × 76 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Chèo. 1966. Oil. 30 × 40 cm
Before the performance I. 1984. Oil. 60 × 80,5 cm
NGUYỄN ĐỖ CUNG (1912 – 1977)
Artist Nguyễn Đỗ Cung (1912 – 1977)
Biography:
- Artist Nguyễn Đỗ Cung was born in February 1912
- Hometown: Xuân Tảo, Xuân Đỉnh, Từ Liêm, Hà Nội
- Graduated from Indochina Fine Arts College, class V (1929 – 1934)
- 1945: Member of Executive Committee of Save the country Cultural Association, making propaganda drawings for the revolution
- 1946: Volunteered to join the army marching to the South, participated in cultural and artistic activities in Zone V and opened short-term drawing classes, contributing to building a new team of artists
- 1949: Returned to Việt Bắc, worked at Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
- 1957: Commissioner of Executive Committee then Standing Committee of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
- 1962 – 1973: Director of Fine Arts Institute (Ministry of Culture), worked at Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum, contributed to the construction of the museum; participated in the art design for the Mausoleum of President Hồ Chí Minh
- He died in 1977, September 22, in Hà Nội
- Streets in Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng, Huế, Nha Trang City are named after him
Celebrated:
- Order of Labor, First Class
- Order of Resistance war, Third class
- Order of the Resistance war against America to save the country, First class
- Premier prize of Fine Arts Exhibiton SADEAI 1936
- Class A prize of National Fine Arts Exhibition 1976
- Class A prize of Capital Fine Arts 1994
Artist Nguyễn Đỗ Cung was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I, 1996 by the State for the following works: Portrait of President Hồ Chí Minh (1946), The guerrillas of La Hai (1947), Militia shooting practice (1948), Learning from each other (1960), The mechanic workers (1976), Invite sisters to the meeting for good worker competition after work (1976).
Portrait of President Hồ Chí Minh. 1946. Ink. 56 × 39 cm
A female guerrilla of Phú Yên. Gouache. 48 × 34 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Guerrillas of La Hai. 1947. Gouache. 39 × 56 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
The mechanic workers. 1976. Oil. 66 × 92 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Invite sisters to the meeting for good worker competition after work. 1976. Oil. 103 × 117,5 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
NGUYỄN PHAN CHÁNH (1892 – 1984)
Artist Nguyễn Phan Chánh (1892 – 1984)
Biography:
- Artist Nguyễn Phan Chánh (pen name: Hồng Nam) was born in 1892, July 21
- Hometown: Tiền Bạt village, Trung Tiết commune, Thạch Hà district, Hà Tĩnh province
- Graduated from Indochina Fine Arts College, class I (1925 – 1930)
- 1931: Some of his silk works were brought to France by Principal Victor Tardieu to be introduced at the Paris exhibition. For the first time, the public learned about Vietnamese silk artworks through the works of Nguyễn Phan Chánh
- 1934 – 1940: Had silk artworks displayed in Italia, America and Japan
- 1945: Participated in Hà Tĩnh Cultural and Arts Front, Standing Commissioner of Hà Tĩnh Save the country Cultural Association
- 1955: Came to Hà Nội, teaching in Hà Nội Fine Arts College
- 1957 – 1983: Member of Executive Committee of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
- 1982: On the occasion of the artist’s 90th birthday, the Ministry of Culture organized an exhibition of his silk works in the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and other countries
- He died in 1984, November 22, in Hà Nội
- Streets in Hà Tĩnh, Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng, Huế, Nha Trang are named after him
Celebrated:
- Order of Independence, First class
- Order of Labor, First class
Artist Nguyễn Phan Chánh was posthumously awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I, 1996 by the State for the following works: Playing Ô ăn quan (1931), Girl washing vegetable (1931), The meal of winning season (1960), After the battle (1967), The bright moon (1967), The dim moon (1970), Self portrait (1976).
Washing vegetable by the pond. 1931. Silk. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
After the battle. 1967. Silk. 52 × 73 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Playing ô ăn quan. 1931. Silk. 62 × 58 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
Self portrait. 1976. Silk
The meal of winning season. 1960. Silk. 63 × 78 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
Bright moon. 1967. Silk
Dim moon. 1970. Silk
DIỆP MINH CHÂU (1919 – 2002)
Artist Diệp Minh Châu (1919 – 2002)
Biography:
- Artist Diệp Minh Châu was born in 1919, February 10
- Hometown: Nhơn Thạnh, Giồng Trôm, Bến Tre
- 1940 – 1943: Studied at Indochina Fine Arts College, class XIV (1941 – 1945)
- 1945: Participate in seizing power in Bến Tre town
- 1946: Joined the Party and became head of the anti-corruption committee in Châu Thành district, Bến Tre
- 1946 – 1947: Head of the front reportage department and head of the painting department of inter-zone 8, went on field trips with the National Guard
- 1947 – 1949: Head of the Painting Department of the Southern Resistance Culture Institute
- 3 – 7/1951: Being close to Uncle Hồ Chí Minh, was able to draw pictures of Uncle Hồ in Việt Bắc
- 1951 – 1955: Studied painting, graduated from Fine Arts Academy of Czechoslovakia
- 1957 – 1964: Lecturer in Việt Nam Fine Arts College
- 1962 – 1975: Head of Sculpture – Việt Nam Fine Arts Association
- 1978 – 1980: Member of the 7th National Assembly, Vice Chairman of Hồ Chí Minh City Literature and Arts Association, General Secretary of Hồ Chí Minh City Fine Arts Association
- He died in 2002, July 12 in Hồ Chí Minh City
- The name of painter and sculptor Diệp Minh Châu was given to a high school in his hometown Bến Tre and streets in Hồ Chí Minh City and Đà Nẵng
Celebrated:
- Order of Resistance war, Second class
- Order of Independence, Third class
- Order of the Resistance war against France, First class
- First prize in sculpture at National Fine Arts Exhibition in 1958 for the statue of Võ Thị Sáu
- First prize in sculpture at National Fine Arts Exhibition in 1980 for the work Uncle Hồ by the stream of Lenin
Painter – sculptor Diệp Minh Châu was awarded Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts, Stage I, 1996 by the State for the works: President Hồ Chí Minh and Children of the North, the Central and the South (1947); The scent of lotus (1957), Võ Thị Sáu (1958), Uncle Hồ by the stream of Lenin (1980), Uncle Hồ and children (1993).
President Hồ Chí Minh and Children of the North, the Central and the South. 1947. Blood on silk. Collection of National Museum of History
The scent of lotus. 1957. 72 cm
Uncle Hồ by the stream of Lenin. 1980. Plaster. 108 × 82 × 72 cm. Collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
Uncle Hồ and children. 1993. Bronze. H 400 cm
Document:
The book “Hồ Chí Minh Prize for Literature and Arts”, Trẻ Publishing House, 2020
