Such folk games for children as tug of war, 'bit mat bat de' (catching a goat while blindfolded), and hide and seek are shown in different ways by artists, making paintings on folk themes and childhood become newer and more attractive to viewers.

Painter Truong Nguyen Nguyen Kha (right) and his painting about the ''planting buds and flowers'' folk game. Photo: T.Y

Preserving memories

Graduating from the Hue University of Fine Arts in 1993, painter Ho Dinh Nam Kha, Chairman of the Da Nang Fine Arts Association, is well known for his silk paintings, including two pieces of works entitled ‘’Bac - Trung - Nam’ (North - Central - South) and ‘Hon Que’ (Country Soul) on display at the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum.

However, few people know that, in 2001, when starting to try on silk, Ho Dinh Nam Kha chose to draw the ‘tug of war’ folk game in the ‘Dong Dao’ painting.

Kha said he was fascinated by folk games as teaching fine arts at the Children's Cultural Palace in the city.

“Every day, I live between the smiles and innocence of children. Whenever the Children's Cultural Palace organizes folk games, I always pay close attention and am determined to redraw that lovely and innocent moment" he said.

The artist found it difficult to convey the innocence, bustle and moving of the game before talking about the layout, lines, colours and tricks of the game. Therefore, it took him 3 months to complete the silk painting about this folk game.

According to Ho Dinh Nam Kha, Viet Nam has many painters succeeding in silk paintings, including Nguyen Phan Chanh, To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can, Luong Xuan Nhi, Nguyen Tuong Lan, Dang Mau Tuu, and Nguyen Trong Dung.

However, with an independent spirit in art creation, each artist tries to explore, experience, and try on many different materials and methods.

As for Kha, his boldness in self-discovery when drawing a ‘tug of war’ game on silk helped him receive the Outstanding Young Author award by the National Committee of the Viet Nam Union of Literary and Arts Associations in 2001.

Following this success, he has many other works such as ‘rong ran len may’ (the game of dragon and snake), ‘bit mat bat de’ (catching a goat while blindfolded), and hide and seek.

“Almost all of my artworks are about children's games have new owners. This is considered a success of the artist. Perhaps, this topic has touched everyone's childhood memories, with countless games that I have experienced when I was 9 or 10", the artist added.

Meanwhile, painter Truong Nguyen Nguyen Kha, Head of the Professional Affairs of the Da Nang Fine Arts Museum, shapes the style of composition with woodcut painting.

Kha won the C prize for his work themed ‘Games’ at the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association-hosted Central and Highlands Regional Exhibition in 2018.

Also during the year, the ‘Game’ work became the only representative of the Da Nang Fine Arts Association to receive the Annual Prize of the Da Nang Union of Literary and Arts Associations.

Vividly depicting the game of ‘trong nu trong hoa’ (planting buds and flowers) - a folk game familiar to the 8X generation on woodcuts, artist Truong Nguyen Nguyen Kha wishes that the painting contributes to preserving memories and traditional games which are fading away.

According to Kha, in order to complete the woodcut painting, the artist has to go through many stages, from carving on woodblocks to printing on paper (or fabric).

Unlike oil and silk paintings which artists can edit colors, lines and layouts, woodcut paintings require artists to be careful, meticulous, even "holding his breath" when performing complex details.

Preserving Vietnamese values

Painter Ho Dinh Nam Kha said that in recent years, the city's Fine Arts Association maintains 3 to 5 large-scale exhibitions each year, excluding small exhibitions organized by art clubs or members of the Da Nang Fine Arts Association.

Not yet a prominent topic of Da Nang art, but folk materials and games associated with childhood memories in paintings are always attractive to viewers. Many artists believe that when drawing what they have seen and experienced, the works certainly bring true emotions.

Painter Nguyen Trong Dung affirmed that folk games or childhood memories are topics that challenge art creators.

For example, the same game is shown on the same material, but two artists will produce two completely different works. Or, the same art technique, but the painting shown on silk will be different on oil paint, acrylic...

In his collection, painter Nguyen Trong Dung carefully preserves games associated with his own childhood memories, such as white buffalos and black buffalos, bronze knife, kite flying, festival singing, etc.

Similarly, artist Tran Huu Can - who pursues topical topics such as anti-corruption, social evils, and urban life on acrylic material - also sometimes calms down when presenting two paintings about childhood.

Not only the preservation and expression of childhood memories with colours, contemporary art works have contributed to honouring the cultural and spiritual values of Vietnamese people.

Painter Ho Dinh Nam Kha believes that each artist has a different way of feeling about lines and layout, so he doesn't feel pressured in composing. And, each finished work brings positive spiritual value to the artist, followed by viewers and those who are interested in traditional and folk games.

Reporting by TIEU YEN - Translating by M.DUNG