Since citywide school closures began on 3 February due to coronavirus pandemic, art teacher Truong Hoang Thanh in the Nui Thanh Primary School in Da Nang’s Hai Chau District has spent his time creating beautiful murals for his school.

Although his school is being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Thanh still goes to the school everyday for painting murals

Over the past 2 months, the art teacher has gone to the school to paint beautiful murals on its compound walls and pillars.

His wall murals depict such folk games as hide-and-seek, skipping rope and ‘o an quan’ (mandarin square capturing), the images of wildlife in need of protection, and colourful flower gardens.

Also, the concrete pillars in the school have been given a new coat of murals depicting characters from well-loved fairy tales, including Tam Cam and Son Tinh-Thuy Tinh.

In particular, Mr Thanh has used recycled car tires as one of the materials for his ocean-themed murals.

The teacher said he created beautiful murals as a welcome 'gift' to his pupils when they come back to school. He also hoped that his murals would help his pupils relax after hours of hard studying, and feel more interested in learning in fine arts.

He expressed his hope that his wall murals would help his pupils being more interested in folk games instead of spending more time watching television and playing mobile games.

Headmistress of the Nui Thanh Primary School Huynh Thi Thu Nguyet said Mr Thanh has been working at the school for 18 years, and he has always been respected and loved by his colleagues and pupils.

She remarked the murals have breathed new life into the school’s old walls, giving her school new face, and making it more beautiful.

It took him 3-4 hours to paint a wall mural

Murals depicting marine species with used car tires

A vivid wall painting

A wall painting depicting red-shanked douc langurs at a staircase in the school

Murals depicting Vietnamese folk games

Teacher Thanh has given a new coat of murals to old walls of the school

A boy pupil showing his interest in the art teacher’s paintings

Murals on the school’s pillars depicting characters from Vietnamese fairy tales

 By XUAN SON - Translated by MAI DUNG