Towards the 70th anniversary for Liberation of Capital Hà Nội (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2024), at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum held the opening of an exhibition with the title “Hà Nội, Vitality and Faith”.
Photo: Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum
70 years ago, on October 10, 1954, Hà Nội was officially liberated in the overwhelming joy of the people. This was a great event, a great festival not only for the people of Hà Nội but also a great happiness for all people across the country, a glorious victory of the revolution, nine years of long and arduous fighting with countless sacrifices and losses with the heroic, courageous, and indomitable spirit of our people against a powerful enemy.
This historical milestone has created a powerful source of inspiration for artists to create timeless works of art that go with the times, recording the golden historical moment of the nation. The image of Hà Nội, resplendent with flags and flowers, and people bustling on the day of welcoming the army to liberate the Capital on October 10, 1954, has been recreated in works of art rich in artistic value.
Phạm Văn Lung. Uncle Hồ with Gia Lâm railway workers.
The exhibition displays 70 paintings, graphics, and sculptures with diverse materials: Oil, lacquer, silk, gouache, woodcut, plaster, bronze… created by generations of artists, selected from the Modern Fine Arts collection of Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum. Each work carries within it a rich visual language, with the unique mark of each artist, thereby conveying each person’s sincere feelings for the thousand-year-old Capital.
Bùi Xuân Phái (1920 – 1988). Gia Ngư street. 1980. Oil. 50,5×70,5 cm
The exhibition “Hà Nội, Vitality and Faith” is like a slow-motion film, recalling the memories of Hà Nội in a bygone era, taking on many shades over time. It is Hà Nội of “a time of peace” with 36 streets bearing a quiet, ancient beauty, a place that preserves cultural values from many generations with a peaceful beauty that touches hearts through many works of artists such as: Bùi Xuân Phái, Trần Bình Lộc, Nguyễn Đình Phúc, Phạm Văn Đôn, Nguyệt Nga, Vũ Duy Nghĩa, Kim Thái, …
Trần Đình Thọ (1919 – 2011). Occupied Bắc Bộ Phủ. 1984. Oil
It was Hà Nội seething with revolutionary spirit before 1945, clearly recreated through the work “Occupied Bắc Bộ Phủ” by artist Trần Đình Thọ. At that moment, “Heroic Hà Nội” stood up to fight to protect the nation’s independence through the works “Capital of Resistance” by artist Nguyễn Quang Phòng; “Militia of the Capital” by sculptor Nguyễn Thị Kim; “Militia of Military Exercise” by artist Cửu Long Giang…
Nguyễn Thị Kim. Militia of the capital. Plaster
After 9 years of resistance, the image of Hà Nội was depicted in a brilliant atmosphere of flags and flowers welcoming the army to liberate the Capital. Works such as: “Hà Nội Liberation Night” by artist Lê Thanh Đức; “Hàng Đường street” by artist Trịnh Hữu Ngọc; “Liberation Joy” by artist Trần Khánh Chương; “Liberation of the Capital” by artist Đinh Viết Lực… The beautiful, sacred images of the moment the Capital was completely liberated were vividly depicted in the language of painting and still live forever in the hearts of every citizen of the Capital. Through the creative lens of artists, no matter what period of history, Hà Nội is always full of vitality and heroic spirit; where people unite to protect and build the Capital to develop more and more strongly.
Lê Thanh Đức. Hà Nội the night of liberation. 1954. Gouache
Trịnh Hữu Ngọc (1912 – 1997). Hàng Đường street. 1960. Oil. 46×61 cm
Art for humanity is always closely linked to life, giving us more realistic and vivid perspectives on the world around us. The deep emotions that the exhibition “Hà Nội, Vitality and Faith” brings to viewers make us more proud of the heroic Capital – the noble title that the Party, State and people have given to Thăng Long – Hà Nội – the capital of a thousand years of culture.
In addition to displaying works of art in the traditional way, Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum combines the application of digital projection technology to bring more unique and interesting experiences to art lovers when visiting the exhibition. Besides, the exhibition space also organizes woodblock printing activities so that viewers can directly experience the process of creating the works.
Cửu Long Giang. Militia training. 1967. Gouache
Nguyễn Đình Phúc. Ô Quan Chưởng. 1980. Oil
The exhibition “Hà Nội, Vitality and Faith” will be a meaningful activity on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary for Liberation of the Capital that Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum offers to art lovers in the clear, mild weather of Hà Nội’s autumn.
The exhibition opens from October 8, 2024 to October 22, 2024 at Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum (66 Nguyễn Thái Học, Ba Đình, Hà Nội).
Within the framework of the exhibition, at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, October 12, 2024, there will also be a talk show with the theme “Famous painter Nguyễn Tư Nghiêm – the person who connected traditional aesthetic values with contemporary” at the exhibition space.
Written by Viet Art View
