(VOVWORLD) - For painter Do Nhu Diem, the Dien Bien Phu Victory in 1954 is an endless source of inspiration. Diem wondered how to make this historic milestone continue to shine for generations and remind younger generations of patriotism and national pride. He has included these things in his paintings for over 20 years.
 Painter Do Nhu Diem (Photo: VOV) |
During the American war, painter Do Nhu Diem joined the army and was tasked with drawing propaganda pictures. His themes revolved around the image of soldiers. Diem mixes his color pigments and sketches every detail to highlight the heroic spirit of the Vietnamese army and people during historic events, including the Dien Bien Phu campaign.
“Many artists have depicted the Dien Bien Phu Victory that ‘resounded across the five continents and shook the globe’, but I decided to do it in a different way. For me, when drawing pictures of the Dien Bien Phu campaign, it’s essential to spotlight important details, such as soldiers’ uniforms and militiamen carrying rice bags on their shoulders. Those features were typical of the Dien Bien Phu campaign.”
At the age of 70, Diem still spends time doing research to find more creative ways to capture the image of soldiers and other people in each new painting. He said a propaganda painting must recreate things and people during the war time in a realistic and accurate way. Every detail must be accurate. He taught this principle to his son, artist Do Duc Do.
“When I was little, I followed my father and drew propaganda paintings and large posters. He made sketches and I applied colors. He was my teacher. When I grew up, I decided to follow my father’s profession. He always reminds me of the themes, costumes, and tools. A painter must do a lot of research for propaganda paintings. Now there is computer aided drawing software, but my father still encourages me to draw by hand because hand paintings look more vivid and natural,” said Do.
 A propaganda painting on Dien Bien Phu created by Do Nhu Diem. (Photo: VOV) |
With more than 50 years’ experience drawing revolutionary war themes, including 20 years of propaganda paintings on the Dien Bien Phu Victory, Diem has won awards at national competitions. Many of his works have been displayed in museums and used for propaganda and communication posters in Hanoi and other localities. In April, Diem won both first prize and second prize in the propaganda painting competition on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.
“In his hand-drawn propaganda paintings, Diem has expressed the colors, images, and slogans in an impressive and condensed way. The propaganda paintings’ theme conveys to people the purposes and meaning of the historic victory of Dien Bien Phu,” Nguyen Quoc Huy, Deputy Director of the Department of Grassroots Culture of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said.
Diem’s paintings are on display at a number of museums, including the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Thai Binh Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museums in the UK. He has also published a picture book of collected propaganda paintings.