Light up heroic memories of Dien Bien Phu

The portrait of President Ho Chi Minh is vividly depicted.

At the Dien Bien Phu Cultural Exchange and Tourism Information Center, the area displaying and performing a series of sculptures combining light by young artist Bui Van Tu, born in 1992, is one of the places that attracts the most tourists and locals to come and enjoy.

The first work Bui Van Tu introduced to us was a block of objects made mainly from materials such as sacks and tree branches. Without using light, at first glance, none of us could imagine what the things in front of us had to do with the Dien Bien Phu Campaign 70 years ago. However, when the light was shone through the sculpture, on the curtain behind, the image of a convoy of carts going up steep slopes and deep passes to supply the battlefield suddenly appeared.

While we were still amazed, Bui Van Tu was busy rotating the base. The black shadows also moved, then slowly formed into the shape of 3 Dien Bien soldiers waving the victory flag on the roof of General De Castries' bunker, to the amazement of the witnesses.

Artisan Bui Van Tu next to a light sculpture about General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Learning more about the “2 in 1” sculpture cluster above, we learned that Tu used the technique of image displacement to create two image blocks on the same subject. By simply rotating the directions, viewers will be able to admire different light sculptures.

What is more special is the meaning that Tu wants to express through the work. Accordingly, the two images shown represent two different stages of the historic Dien Bien Phu Campaign. If the legend of the bicycle represents the will of the entire people and army to devote human and material resources to Dien Bien; then the picture of Dien Bien Victory is the pinnacle of the entire campaign. The continuity and complementarity give viewers a comprehensive and impressive view of a glorious historical event of the past.

In addition to the above "2 in 1" sculpture cluster, artist Bui Van Tu also brought to the exhibition a work about the portrait of the "Big Brother" of the Vietnam People's Army - General Vo Nguyen Giap. Pointing to the miniature landscape below the work, Tu explained: This is a model of the trench system at the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. 70 years ago, the 200km trench in the Muong Thanh basin was considered the mobile base of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. The trenches were like long pincers, helping the troops to approach and destroy the French stronghold.

Image of Dien Bien soldiers raising the victory flag on the roof of General De Castries' bunker.

Right in the middle of the exhibition area, there is a massive block of driftwood. According to Tu's introduction, this is a work called Vietnamese Pride. The work is also part of a theme cluster aiming to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory.

After a few movements, the light shines through the sculpture, the image of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence in the bright autumn of history is vividly depicted gradually. When rotating the sculpture, the next image that appears is the map of the Fatherland with the two archipelagos of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. Continuing to move the sculpture, the light will "draw" the Party flag and the national flag fluttering. The lighting system used at this time is yellow light to make the flag color most realistic. In a moment, the viewer seems to be lost in a sacred and quiet space where there is only solemnity and respect.

“Uncle Ho’s ideology, the Party’s guidelines… are the torch of light, the key factor leading to the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory” - that is the meaning that Tu wants to express through the above work. It is also from this meaning that Tu chose Pride of Vietnam to bring to the exhibition of Tourism through the heritage and scenic spots of Vietnam in Dien Bien this time.

The paintings were displayed and performed at the exhibition "Tourism through Vietnam's heritage and scenic spots" in Dien Bien.

It is known that Bui Van Tu started to come up with ideas, sketch out shapes and start creating the above special painting series at the end of 2023. Light will also be used right from the beginning of sculpting, both shining the light and carving to create the exact product that Tu had in mind.

According to this young artist, the most difficult stage is when creating the shape. If the shape is only 1mm off, the entire shadow will be ruined. Therefore, it requires a high level of concentration and meticulousness. In particular, when choosing the path of recreating historical figures, Tu had to equip himself with a lot of knowledge about history and culture so that each work is "drawn" with the most soul. Such a feat, so it was not until mid-April that the set of 3 works was completed.

Only by witnessing and looking with your own eyes can you fully appreciate the subtlety and perfect combination of light and sculpture. From rough wooden boards, sacks, lifeless tree branches, under the creativity and skillful hands of the young artisan, combined with light, vivid portraits of the "Father" of the nation; "Elder Brother" of the Vietnam People's Army or the Dien Bien Soldiers were created. And above all, this is also the way the young artisan expresses his gratitude to the generation of his fathers, who made the historic victory "famous in five continents, shaking the earth" 70 years ago.

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