Painter Nguyen Trong Hiep: 70 years immersed in painting

(Baonghean.vn) - I visited my teacher again on a late autumn day. The small, quiet house was hidden on one of the busiest streets in the city. In front of me was the teacher, the old painter of many generations of art students like me. He was still the same, healthy, agile, and strong with the beret on his head that had been with him for decades. What surprised and delighted me was that there was almost no sign of a person at a "rare" age.

Portrait of artist Nguyen Trong Hiep.

“I am still very healthy and energetic! I still have many plans for the future. Please wait!” - He said, after I asked about his health.

In the small room are scattered all kinds of paints, brushes and many paintings - the teacher's brainchildren. Many of the works are neatly framed, some are waiting to be completed and a few are unfinished.

Pointing around the room, he said: “I am urgently preparing 70 works for my solo exhibition which will open on November 20th this year at Nghe An College of Culture and Arts, and it is also a gift to myself after 70 springs of passion and living with fine arts!”

From my heart, I felt a surge of emotion and admiration. That was one of the first teachers and painters who guided me to step into the path I am on - Painting.

Painter Nguyen Trong Hiep believes, "I paint not to show people what I paint, but to let people feel the beauty of life around us..."

My teacher, painter Nguyen Trong Hiep, was born in the rice fields of Yen Thanh, where he worked hard all year round in the corn and rice fields. According to him, from a young age, unlike his siblings, he showed a passion and special ability for painting.

That is why, right at the time of the 70s of the last century, when the whole country was going through the most difficult and arduous years of the post-war period, although life was miserable and deprived, his parents, poor farmers at that time, still did not hesitate to face difficulties to let their son continue his dream on the path to art.

Not letting down his parents and family, in 1978, the young man from the rice fields enthusiastically set off for the capital to continue his dream at the prestigious school where his predecessors had made history in the country's fine arts history such as Bui Xuan Phai, Nguyen Phan Chanh, To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Gia Tri...: Vietnam University of Fine Arts. During this period, he had very impressive works such as: Portrait of a young woman (Powder color, 1971);The Old Farmer (Charcoal, 1972);Grandchild Thi (Gouache, 1972) Sculptor (Gouache, 1974); Mr. Ban Thanh Chuong (Gouache, 1977); Country Girl (Gouache, 1976)...

Work "Unity is strength".

After 5 years of studying at school, being exposed to the most basic knowledge of painting, the dream that the young man from the rice fields had cherished for many years burned more passionately than ever.

In 1983, the young man graduated and eagerly returned to his homeland with many great plans and ambitions. Throwing himself into the practical life of that period, with enthusiasm and the desire to use painting to embellish life and contribute to encouraging the spirit of enthusiastic labor, production, construction and development of the country, he successively created many valuable works such as: Phosphate Factory (Colored Woodcut, 1983); Cow Farm (Colored Gouache, 1985); Sound of Waves (Oil on Canvas, 1986). Besides, paintings with the lyrical breath of life were also introduced to the art-loving public such as: Young Woman (Pastel, 1980); Untitled (Colored Gouache, 1987); Waiting Wharf (Silk, 1980); Nguyen Tieu (Colored Gouache, 1985)...

The work "Uncle Ho and Prince Souphanouvon"

Since 1985, he has been assigned to teach at the Fine Arts Department, Nghe Tinh High School of Culture and Arts (now Nghe An College of Culture and Arts). Directly teaching to impart the most basic knowledge and skills in the field of painting to many generations of students "is the greatest joy and happiness of my life" - he confided.

Although he worked hard day and night with his teaching job, he did not forget his passion for creativity. Dozens of works of high artistic value were also composed by him during this period, the most prominent of which are: Unity is strength; Young woman and violin; On the Perfume River; Champa dance; For the sea and islands, for the fatherland; Uncle Ho and Prince Xuphanuvon; Buckwheat flowers; Early autumn...

Over a cup of hot morning tea, in the distant contemplation, the teacher suddenly said to me: "As an artist, sometimes we paint not to let people see us paint, but to let people feel the beauty of life around us through the unique and extremely charming language of painting, my dear". I felt deeply moved and happy. Suddenly I felt like I was forever small next to the teacher./.

Nguyen Huu Tinh