A few words about the painting that was auctioned for 1 billion VND in Nghe An.

Responding to the appeal letter from the Provincial Party Secretary, on the occasion of welcoming the Lunar New Year 2025, Nghe An province is organizing the "Lam River Solidarity" program. The program aims to call on Party committees, governments at all levels, organizations, individuals, and philanthropists both domestically and internationally to continue to care for and support the poor during Tet (Lunar New Year), so that everyone can enjoy Tet and welcome the New Year, and "no one should be left behind."

At the event, the painting "The Loyalty of the Lam River" by artist Bui Dinh Thang was auctioned for 1 billion VND, and the entire amount was donated by the artist to the "Loyalty of the Lam River - Spring 2025" program. This contributes to helping the poor in the province celebrate the Lunar New Year. It should be added that the program's name, "The Loyalty of the Lam River," is named after the painting, further enhancing the humanitarian value of the artwork.

Following the "Affectionate Bonds of the Lam River" program, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province organized a meeting with the author and transferred ownership of the painting "Affectionate Bonds of the Lam River". At the meeting, artist Bui Dinh Thang shared about this special oil painting.

According to the artist, the painting was created under special circumstances, when Typhoon Yagi struck and devastated the northern provinces, including Nghe An. As a native of Nghe An living in Ho Chi Minh City, artist Bui Dinh Thang, witnessing the pain and losses of his hometown people, wanted to do something meaningful to help them overcome difficulties and move towards a better life.

Inspired by businessman Nguyen Hong Hai, artist Bui Dinh Thang created the painting "The Loyalty of the Lam River" using oil paint. The artist shared: "When creating this painting, I couldn't avoid feeling pressure, because the Lam River is a symbol of Nghe An province, depicted in many famous works of poetry, songs, music, and art. But then, with my deep love for my homeland, my artistic sensibility, and the treasure trove of childhood memories, I completed this work."

Born and raised in Do Luong district, and having established his career in Ho Chi Minh City, Bui Dinh Thang's memories of his hometown are always filled with recollections of the Lam River. Here, he used to go fishing with friends, herd buffalo, and harvest corn and potatoes on the riverbanks. The times he took the ferry across the Cung ferry terminal to visit his paternal grandparents' village in Cat Van commune (Thanh Chuong district), with its lush green cornfields and rice paddies, are deeply etched in his mind.

Therefore, the setting and space in the artwork "The Affectionate River of Lam" is the section of the Lam River flowing through Luong and Cat Van communes (Thanh Chuong district). The painting is depicted using two main color tones: dark and light. The dark tones recreate the riverbank and surrounding scenery, evoking nostalgic childhood memories, while conveying the meaning of the arduous and difficult life, as well as the diligence and hard work of the farmers of Nghe An province. The light tones represent the river and the dawn breaking on the horizon.

Through the contrast in colors, the artist wishes to affirm faith and hope in a better future. The painting also depicts the contrast between the vast, endless space of the river, the sky, and nature, and the smallness and finitude of humanity. This is shown through the image of a small strip of land jutting out from the river, where tiny people are waiting and longing.

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Through the artwork "The Loyalty of the Lam River," I want to celebrate the majestic beauty of my homeland's landscape and the resilience of the people of Nghe An in their lives and work. This is the foundation and motivation for the people to overcome difficulties and losses caused by natural disasters, specifically Typhoon Yagi. It is even more meaningful that the painting was auctioned for a large sum of money, contributing to helping the poor celebrate Tet and enjoy the Spring Festival.

Artist Bui Dinh Thang