EXHIBITIONS “MEMORIES OF THE TRƯỜNG SƠN TRAIL”
EXHIBITIONS “MEMORIES OF THE TRƯỜNG SƠN TRAIL”
On April 26th, Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) introduces “Memories of The Trường Sơn Trail” Exhibition featuring paintings, sketches, installation works, and video art pieces about the trail, known more commonly as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a strategic transport route connecting North Vietnam and South Vietnam during the war. Co-organized by VCCA and the Truong Son Veterans’ Society, the exhibition is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Trường Sơn – Hồ Chí Minh historical trail (19/5/1959 -2019) and 44th anniversary of Vietnam’s Reunification Day (30/4/1975-2019).
“Memories of Trường Sơn Trail”, curated by artist Lê Thiết Cương, is an artistic programme centered on fine art, particularly the on-site sketches created at the Trường Sơn range during the period from 1960 to 1975 by artists: Đào Đức, Hoàng Đình Tài, Huy Oách, Chu Thảo, Lê Trí Dũng, Nguyễn Đức Dụ. The exhibition also features other artworks based on documentation materials of artists Nguyễn Đức Dụ, Phạm Lực and Thanh Châu. Furthermore, there are 2 installations presenting memories of the Trường Sơn Trail through a series of black and white photos documenting life and work on the trail, as well as through diary notes of martyr Dương Thị Xuân Quý, composer Vũ Trọng Hối, poet Anh Ngọc, former Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committe Phạm Quang Nghị; transcripts of compositions by composer Huy Du; poems from Xuân Quỳnh (Writing on Road 20), Nguyễn Duy (the squared sky), Ngô Thảo (Letter from the front), handwritten manuscript of poet Nguyễn Thuỵ Kha, of which the epic Passage of Metal is transformed into a video with background music comprising of Hoàng Vân’s songs (Song of transportation, Hello Mr. Soldier, Welcome a victories spring).
During the exhibition, aiming to offer visitors valuable information about a glorious period in the nation’s history, the documentary “Reports about Legendary Trường Sơn” produced by Vietnam Television will be screened.
“The paintings and sketches shown in this exhibition tell the life and times of soldiers on the Trường Sơn Trail. Part of Trường Sơn’s history has been memorialized through paintings. By visiting the exhibition, visitors will have the chance to ‘meet’ the brave soldiers and youth volunteers, who did logistics services and made roads for army troops, in every corner of this mountain range. We hope the exhibition will be a meaningful event to mark the country’s celebrations,” said writer Pham Thanh Long, representative of the Truong Son Veterans’ Society.
The exhibition will be open to the public from April 26 to May 26 at VCCA, Block B1 – R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai road, Thanh Xuan district.
