Exhibition of 130 paintings by journalists

The opening event on the morning of June 18 was organized by the Vietnam Journalists Association in collaboration with the Vietnam News Agency. The eight participants were journalists with a passion for painting, most of whom started their painting careers in recent years, when they were middle-aged.

In one corner of the exhibition, the area displaying paintings by Mr. Nguyen Tien Le - who used to work at the Southern News Agency - attracted the public. He brought to the event 20 paintings with diverse materials such as acrylic and watercolor. With the theme of nature and still life, the artist chose everyday life slices, such as the work depicting the Phu Quoc afternoon sea with cool, dark tones, or the autumn scene, the trees by the lake in the season of falling leaves.

Artist Tien Le said that when he was young, he loved painting but for many reasons, he turned to journalism. After retiring, he started teaching himself to paint in 2016 to fulfill his old dream. He practiced sketching skills, selected colors through books, and made friends with colleagues who shared his passion to learn from their experiences. After painting on regular paper and canvas, he experimented with more difficult materials such as Do paper.

Every time he sits in front of the easel, Mr. Tien Le always creates based on inspiration instead of choosing a subject in advance. Many paintings he completes in just an hour, but there are also works that have to be left for months because of lack of ideas. "I realize that although they are two different fields, journalism helps a lot with painting. Writing for newspapers requires reason, so it will help the artist balance his psychology while painting - which tends to be emotional - or choose a subject in a calmer, more profound way," he said.

Mr. Huynh Dung Nhan - a veteran reporter - introduces 25 portraits of famous names, such as poet Nguyen Duy, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, writer Nguyen Huy Thiep, rapper Den Vau. The journalist studied painting as a child, but after many years of war, he changed his career direction, seemingly forgetting his original passion. After suffering a stroke three years ago, the "blood" of painting gradually crept into his body. Huynh Dung Nhan asked relatives to buy him palettes, colors, brushes, and drawing books to start drawing again on his hospital bed.

Most of the paintings were painted by Mr. Huynh Dung Nhan in 2021, when Covid-19 was complicated. At that time, one side of his body was paralyzed, making it difficult for him to walk. With only his right hand still moving, he focused on creating, both to relieve his body's sluggishness and to fight depression during the long period of staying at home. After three years, he painted more than 2,000 paintings, mostly portraits. "For me, painting is a way to express my feelings for my friends, people I admire, not to serve economic needs," he said.

Many other painters also brought to the exhibition diverse themes of life. Painter Ngo Thanh Nhan participated with five oil and acrylic paintings, includingHa Longlarge format and some paintings of Ho Chi Minh City. Nguyen Nghiem - former reporter of Tan Binh District Radio Station - introduced 15 paintings with the theme of landscape. Painter Vu Kim Son depicted daily life with the typical composition and lighting style of a veteran photojournalist. Tieu Tan - 36 years old, the youngest artist of the group of authors, reporter of the newspaperSaigon Liberation- Introducing watercolor and silk works.

Attending the opening ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai appreciated many works of high artistic value, evoking the perspective and thoughts of journalists. He expressed gratitude to reporters and editors who contributed to the development of Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country. Painter Nguyen Nghiem said that after the exhibition, the proceeds from the sale of paintings will be donated to the fund to help victims of Agent Orange and build reading rooms for primary school students in Gia Lai.