Artist Duong Dinh Hy: Cherishing each 'seed'

(Baonghean) - I have been impressed with artist Duong Dinh Hy for many years, when he and his students - who share the same passion for oil painting - met and traveled together in the colorful world to realize their noble dreams.

Keep the Nghe accent, Nghe quality

Over 80 years old, artist Duong Dinh Hy is still attached to his passion for painting. Photo: Vo Thu Huong

Born in 1935 in Ha Tinh, from childhood to youth, artist Duong Dinh Hy lived in many areas of Nghe An. After studying abroad in China, he returned to work in Hanoi and then went to Ho Chi Minh City to work, where he has been for many years. After being away from home for more than 60 years, he still retains his Nghe accent and Nghe personality: honest, gentle, hard-working and willing to share with people who are more disadvantaged and unfortunate than himself.

Duong Dinh Hy is known as one of the journalists, poets, and painters with a respectable age and career - nearly 60 years old, he still works in art every day. Artist Hy's morning starts at 6 am, after a few dozen minutes of exercise, watering the plants in the small garden on the attic, and after breakfast, he will sit at his desk to work. He said he finds peace and rest when doing mental work. At the age of over 80, his skin is still rosy, his eyes are bright and he moves quickly, writes poetry, paints, and translates literary works for publishers that make young people admire him.

Duong Dinh Hy was one of the famous people in the literary and journalistic world in the 70s and 80s. He was one of the founders and developers of many newspapers such as People's Teacher, Red Scarf Newspaper... Many of his literary works (translated and composed) were loved by children such as: The Water Bottle of Immortality, Comrade Nurse, Going to the New School, First Class Hour...

Artist Duong Dinh Hy and his students. Photo: Vo Thu Huong

Poetry and painting are some of the corners of his soul that he cherishes. Although he has not won many awards or recognitions like prose or journalism, it is the path he has been most persistently attached to since his youth until now. When I asked him why he chose to explore many lands together, when human strength is of course limited, when "specialization" on one land would be more effective? He replied that all of those "explorations" are not outside of intellectual work. That is the path I chose, I have loved it since I was young. All awards are just encouragement, the important thing is that your heart is pure, your thoughts are open, you can live with passion and can help many lives.

A student who surpasses his teacher is a blessing.

Portrait of artist Duong Dinh Hy. Photo: Vo Thu Huong

The house of writer - poet - journalist Duong Dinh Hy, located deep in an alley on An Binh Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, is considered the "headquarters" of a group of young artists who are passionate about colors and always open their hearts. Because Lan Huong, a member of the group, is his daughter. Moreover, Mr. Duong Dinh Hy is considered by the group as a spiritual mentor, guiding and supporting them in every step.

More than 3 years ago, this group of young artists met by chance at Lan Huong's house. They confided in each other about their passion for painting and their desire to share it with their community. These like-minded souls began to make a bold decision to start practicing painting, with the teaching, encouragement and confidence of artist Duong Dinh Hy - their "spiritual teacher", although all 6 of them had not attended any art school, although this group of young artists was always modest when talking about their paintings: "We are learning to paint and still have a lot to learn", but many of their paintings have been present at several exhibitions abroad and have been ordered by international friends. Paintings by Lan Huong and Le Thuy participated in an exhibition in Bordeaux, France. Le Thuy once represented the group in an exhibition with 64 artists from the South of France, at the invitation of the Art Blue Association, France...

What makes many people respect artist Duong Dinh Hy is that he trained many students with the ability to "transform" skillfully. Among his students, many had never held a brush before, he bought canvas, brushes, paints and taught them, completely free of charge. Not long after meeting again, that student was confident enough to have his paintings exhibited abroad. In particular, there was the young artist Thuy Hang, who came to his house as a... housekeeper. Ms. Hang was eager to learn despite her difficult family circumstances forcing her to quit school and go to work very early, so she was guided by him. Up to now, Hang's paintings have regular buyers, she has also been taught English by Mr. Hy, she can read and write fluently, speak fluently, and communicate well in English.

Jokingly, I asked Mr. Duong Dinh Hy, when a student is better than the teacher, does the teacher feel… sad? He laughed out loud, teasing me, a native of Nghe An, but did not fully understand the temperament of a “Nghe scholar”. Once upon a time, when I was in secondary school in the village, there was a math teacher. The teacher often called a student named Thinh to solve difficult math problems for his classmates to learn from. That day, Thinh solved them in a different way from the teacher’s usual way, very concise. The teacher exclaimed: “You are better than me” with joy clearly visible on his face. I always remember the teacher’s story and understand that, having a student better than the teacher is a great blessing.

Want to connect compassionate hearts

Not only painting to satisfy his personal passion, Mr. Hy always teaches his students to do something good for life with the most practical things. The group uses his teacher's poem as a guideline: "Let's sow in time/ Each seed grows/ And know how to wait for the harvest/ Don't let a moment of the soul be empty/ Each day passes/ When the afternoon comes, it's terrifying... When the human conscience awakens/ the hand gains a thousand pounds of strength" (Duong Dinh Hy) and the group's motto is "Draw a lot of paintings and sell them for charity".

Teacher Hy named the group An Binh from this meaning. Peace for each person's soul when sublimating in each stroke of painting and peace for the unfortunate, unlucky fates.

Many charity exhibitions of the group and some members of the group have brought initial results. The number of their paintings sold and exhibited regularly each year is proportional to the charity programs. Le Thuy - a young artist in the group shared the group's dream and future plans: "The whole group hopes to build an orphanage in the future and help street children, without a place to rely on, to study and have a bright future. Therefore, the whole group must make a lot of effort, and all of the group's exhibitions are for charity."

Artist Duong Dinh Hy showed me some meaningful moments of him and his students. Among them, there was a picture of him cutting the ribbon to open an international painting exhibition at the An Binh Artist Group Gallery. He smiled and boasted: Hey, besides poetry and drawing, I still have to improve my English and computer skills every day. Otherwise, how can I keep up with the kids?

But I and many people know that despite his modesty, that "old" artist is still admired by the young generation, not only for his talent but also for his whole heart.

Vo Thu Huong