Sunset light

At an age when many people have chosen to relax and rest, many Tuyen Quang artists are still diligently creating, keeping the flame of passion alive, pouring their souls into their works, contributing to enriching the cultural and spiritual life of their homeland. Age seems to only slow down the pace of life, but cannot quench the desire to contribute in the hearts of artists.

Creative diligence

Painter Mai Hung, former Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Literature and Arts Association, is an artist with a long and persistent creative process. He has left Tuyen Quang a valuable art legacy. His paintings not only recreate the reality of life but also open up emotional spaces, imbued with a romantic and soaring breath. In Tuyen Quang, he built an art gallery named after himself, a place connecting the souls of artists and the public. Although he is in his "late afternoon" age, he continues to create endlessly. His silk work "Short Flax Thread" was awarded the Encouragement Prize at the 29th Northwest - Viet Bac Regional Fine Arts Exhibition III in 2024, as a vivid proof of the never-ending flame of art. For painter Mai Hung, art is constant creation. Although his hands may tremble with age, the light in his eyes and the passion in his heart still burn brightly.

Many artists, despite their old age, still actively participate in the 2025 Literary Creation Camp.

Also in his twilight years, but in the small, simple house of musician Dinh Quang Minh, music has never stopped playing high and low notes. Born in 1942, with silver hair and gentle eyes, he has devoted his life to sweet melodies about his homeland. Over the past half century, hundreds of songs such as “Love of Lo River”, “Come Back to Tuyen Quang, My Dear”, “Missing Tuyen”… have been deeply imprinted in the hearts of the public. At the age of over eighty, every morning and evening, he still sits next to his old guitar, finding inspiration in every rustling sound of the wind, every rhythm of life and love for his homeland. His guitar sound is warm and passionate like the beat of an artist’s heart that never rests. The Tan Trao Award in 2016 - when he was nearly 75 years old - is a worthy reward for a life of persistent, dedicated and loving composition.

“Vaccine” to protect against old age

Age can make the eyes dim and the hands tremble, but the heart of an artist never grows old. It is the love of the profession and life that is the “vaccine” that helps them fight aging, keeping their souls fresh and bright. Writer Nguyen Tran Be is a living proof of that.

Born in 1960 in Ninh Binh, he used to be a geologist, reporter, former Vice President of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association. He is the author of 12 books including short stories, novels, memoirs, many of which have been awarded national and regional awards. Not only writing for adults, Nguyen Tran Be is also a writer with a talent for children's literature, many of his short stories have been included in textbooks. In recent years, despite his declining health, he still diligently reads and writes every day in his small house in Ha Giang Ward 2. Writer Nguyen Tran Be shared: "Currently, I am writing a long story about children's topics. Although my writing ability is not the same as before due to the effects of health and age, my passion for literature has seeped into my blood and flesh. Writing is the reason for an artist's life. Only when my mind can no longer think will I stop."

Along with the flow of time and age, writer Do Anh My finds for himself "private spaces" to rejuvenate his soul in each word. He was formerly the Head of the Criminal Technique Department, Tuyen Quang Provincial Police, but throughout his years of professional duties and even after retirement, he always had a special love for literature and had many outstanding works. This year, over seventy, his small room is always lit, where manuscripts, story collections, novels, and memoirs are regularly conceived, proving his rare, enduring creativity. From "The Banyan Tree Outside the World", "The Story of Khe Hu" to "Jerry Goes to the Forest to Learn to Pick Traditional Medicine", his writing style is increasingly humorous, youthful, and full of love. With more than 10 published books, Do Anh My shows that age only slows down the rhythm of writing, but not the beating of an artist's heart.

Not only creating and composing works, many elderly artists in Tuyen Quang also spend time collecting, researching, criticizing literature and quietly guiding and supporting the younger generation. Whenever there is a writing camp, exhibition, poetry night or art festival, people still see the silhouettes of silver heads, slow but enthusiastic steps. According to Poet Ta Ba Huong, Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, Editor-in-Chief of Tuyen Quang Literature and Arts Magazine: In recent years, the Tuyen Quang Provincial Literature and Arts Association has recognized the great contributions of many elderly artists. They still regularly compose, participate in writing camps, perform and most importantly, still maintain a pure spirit of love for art.

With a simple, dedicated and quiet attitude towards life, old age is not the end of creativity, but the gentle light of sunset, where each last ray of sunlight of the day still has time to dye a beautiful corner of the sky golden, multiplying love for the profession and transmitting positive life energy to the next generation.

Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202510/khoang-sang-luc-hoang-hon-940766b/