The old, mossy walls of Tam Hai island commune in Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, and Yen Khe 1 Street, Thanh Khe Tay Ward, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang, have been turned by Da Nang students into beautiful murals with many bright colours, depicting from the daily life, festivals and daily lives of ressidents here to childhood memories and folk games, all of which help spread the message of protecting the environment and water resources.

The painting of a traditional Vietnamese game ‘drawn by students from the Da Nang University of Architecture creates a space of childhood memories on Yen Khe 1 Street, Da Nang. Photo: H.V

Restoring Tam Hai Mural Village

Despite the sweltering summer heat that is surrounding the entire Viet Nam’s central region, 35 officials, lecturers and students of the University of Science and Technology, a member school of the University of Da Nang (UD) still travelled nearly 100km to Tam Hai island commune, with the desire to create murals full of the breath of coastal life here.

It is known that in 2018, the project ‘Tam Hai Mural Village’ was carried out by students of the Faculty of Architecture of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology. Up to now, most of the above paintings have signs of peeling and moss, so the commune’s authorities recommended the Faculty of Architecture to help it restore the painting village.

In fact, the mural village has been deeply rooted in the spiritual life of the coastal villagers and created a unique feature of the island commune, contributing to economic development and attracting tourists from near and far.

Secretary of the Youth Union of the University of Science and Technology Vo Nhu Tung said: “From sketching ideas to completing each mural, volunteers have devoted more than 200% of their enthusiasm and effort, hoping that Tam Hai would have a new look but still retain its original spirit.

In addition, we have also organised cultural exchange activities to strengthen the connection between students and local villagers such as teaching children how to draw and learn English.

Through the project, staff, lecturers and students demonstrated their dedication and sense of responsibility to the community, affirming the role of education in community connection and development. This highly practical project also created a useful playground for students to develop their ability to learn from the reality”.

Volunteers spent 15 days and nights working under the scorching summer sun or standing on high scaffolding to restore 28 artworks depicting diverse images of people's daily life. Through talented hands, the old walls put on attractive new coats with hundreds of colourful patches, bringing more vitality to Tam Hai island commune.

Directly participating in the Tam Hai mural village restoration project, Tran Quoc Bao, a third year student from the Faculty of Architecture said that the trip was a great memory in his life because it contributed to making the island commune more beautiful, creating its own artistic style and also a way to help him interact with the practical experience of his field of study in a more effective manner.

Reliving childhood memories

As reported by Ngo Tuan Anh, the Secretary of the Youth Union of the Da Nang University of Architecture, the mural painting project on Yen Khe 1 Street with the theme ‘Childhood Memories’ was an activity within the framework of ‘Summer Volunteer Student’ campaign launched by this university Youth Union organisation.

In an effort to complete the paintings, this organisation mobilised 41 volunteers, mainly students from the Faculty of Architecture, to implement the project in 15 days.

“Through the paintings, we want to convey images of childhood memories to the adult generations. At the same time, we want to spread the message of environmental protection, water conservation and help students develop their practical skills. After completing the painting route, we will continue to carry out similar projects so as to beautify the landscape at the Hoa Bac Kindergarten, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang”, said Mr. Ngo Tuan Anh.

As the leader of the painting team, student Nguyen Trung, a fourth year student majoring in interior design at the Da Nang University of Architecture, said that with the spirit of pioneering youth and the advantage of studying an artistic major, Trung wanted to join hands with his peers to express a variety of ideas and themes with many different messages on the old walls to create a green-clean-beautiful route.

The more than 110m long painting route, with 26 separate murals with nostalgic images of childhood such as playing in the mid-autumn festival, herding buffalo, bathing in the river or folk games such as blind man’s buff, playing with marbles, kite flying and tug of war. In the middle of the bustling city, the peaceful space of the childhood world created by students from the Da Nang University of Architecture makes anyone who comes here pause for a moment with smiles as if watering the sunny space out there.

Reporting by HUYNH VU - Translating by A.THU