The Grassroots Cultural Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has organized several contests on propaganda paintings. Khanh Hoa Province's painters have been expected to participate in these contests more actively.
The Grassroots Cultural Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has organized several contests on propaganda paintings. Khanh Hoa Province’s painters have been expected to participate in these contests more actively.
Many propaganda painting contests
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Propaganda paintings are a special type of Vietnamese fine arts. They have been associated with the country’s revolutionary history and have been an effective information channel to propagate the political and socio-economic information in the country. In around one recent year, the Grassroots Cultural Department has continuously launched nationwide contests on propaganda paintings, contributing to promote this type of art. The first propaganda painting contest was about COVID-19, which was launched in March 2020. Within five days, 103 entries of 23 painters from over the country were sent to the organization committee. This contest won the sixth National External Information Awards 2020.
After that, many propaganda painting contests were launched in 2020 and 2021, attracting the participation of a large number of painters across the country. Among them were the contests held in response to the main events of the country namely the 75th anniversary of August Revolution and National Day, Communist Party and political system building in 2020, the 13th National Party Congress, environment protection, the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021 - 2026 term, the 110th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s departure to find the path to liberate the nation, etc.
The outstanding entries of these propaganda painting contests were not only exhibited but also allocated to localities to be used on the occasions of related propaganda activities. Thanks to the source of new propaganda paintings allocated by the Grassroots Cultural Department, the visual propaganda activities of Khanh Hoa Provincial Center of Culture and Cinema have become more vivid and effective. “This is a good way to ensure the propaganda uniformity among provinces and cities across the country,” said Van Dinh An, director of the provincial Center of Culture and Cinema.
Khanh Hoa painters still not participate actively
It was a pity that none of Khanh Hoa painters took part in the aforementioned propaganda painting contests. It was even more pity when Khanh Hoa is one of the localities in the central and highland regions which has many painting talent. In fact, the main strength of Khanh Hoa painters is fine arts; meanwhile, not many painters have involved themselves in propaganda paintings. They are also not specialized in propaganda paintings. This could be the reason that the painters of Khanh Hoa didn’t participate in the mentioned propaganda paintings contests. Only some painters of Khanh Hoa have created some hallmarks in propaganda paintings, for example, Le Tri, Vo Thu Duc, and Le Ba Dieu.
As said by a well-known painter in Khanh Hoa, drawing propaganda paintings is both easy and difficult. The themes and subjects for this type of painting are repetitive and not new. It requires the painters not only be skilled in painting but also be creative and very knowledgeable about this type of painting in order to convey the propaganda message. Creating propaganda paintings often involves making ideas and writing and combining layouts, colors and pictures to highlight the themes and subjects, etc.
The propaganda painting movement in Khanh Hoa has been quiet for a long time, according to painter Tran Ha, chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial Association of Literature and Art. This was partly due to the fact that painters have focused more on other types of paintings than propaganda paintings.
The main purpose of propaganda paintings is to improve the quality of visual propaganda. This common task requires a sense of responsibility of painters. In order to promote propaganda painting movement among the province’s painters, the provincial Association Literature and Art should encourage and support the painters over the province to actively participate in propaganda painting contests.
Giang Dinh
Translated by H.N
