The beauty of the Port City through the lens of art and photography

The work "New Day on the Harbor" by Nguyen Thai Co at a recent exhibition in Hai Phong .

Endless source of inspiration

Through the typical paintings and photography works introduced at the Fine Arts and Photography Competition "Hai Phong - Faith and Aspiration" organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the beauty of the Port City appears as both rich in tradition of "Loyalty - Determination to Win" and full of vitality.

In the flow of artistic creation, Hai Phong has long been an endless source of inspiration. The coastal city is not only mentioned through modern architectural works and vibrant lifestyle, but also exists in every color, line, and angle of the painters and photographers.

Painter Pham Anh Tuan, the first prize winner of the "Hai Phong - Belief and Aspiration" Fine Arts and Photography Competition in the field of fine arts, chose the Tam Bac River as the emotional support for his painting. His work "Afternoon Passing on the Street" opens before the viewer's eyes an ancient town reflected in the river.

The pale yellow color mixed with the sediment of time makes the painting seem to echo the sigh of memory, both recalling the past and breathing the breath of the present. The artist said: “Over the years, Hai Phong has had many changes and developments. This is also a source of inspiration as well as a subject for artists to create. For me personally, the paintings of Tam Bac always have their own beauty…”.

Also moved by the beauty of his homeland, painter Tran Hau, a member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association and the Ninh Binh Fine Arts Association, won second prize in the fine arts competition with the work "Hon Dau". In this work, the painter not only painted a famous landscape of Hai Phong, but also evoked a layer of meaning: heroic history, cultural heritage and the city's aspiration to rise. The Hon Dau lighthouse in the painting is like a symbol of illumination and guidance, while offshore are ships guarding the peace day and night. The work is not only a landscape painting, but also a tribute to the past and faith in the future.

In the field of photography, artist Giang Son Dong, the first prize winner with the work “Hai Phong enters a new era”, brings a different perspective on Hai Phong. Through his lens, he captures the image of the city in a new rhythm of life, showing the harmonious combination between nature and urban, between tradition and modernity. Through his work, the lens not only captures a moment, but also evokes emotions, leading viewers into the story of the new vitality of the coastal city.

Where the beliefs and aspirations of the heroic port city converge

The works of the above-mentioned painters and photographers are the highlights of the Fine Arts and Photography Competition “Hai Phong - Faith and Aspiration” organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In just a few months of launching (from April 2025), the Organizing Committee of the competition received nearly 600 works, selected 140 works for display and awarded 22 prizes.

This number not only shows the strong influence of the contest, but also demonstrates the love and attachment of artists across the country to the Port City. Each work, whether a painting or a photo, contributes to honoring the beauty of nature, culture and people of Hai Phong, reflecting the outstanding achievements in construction and socio-economic development, while at the same time arousing confidence and aspirations towards the future.

According to Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Thi Hoang Mai, the goal of the contest is to "select outstanding and outstanding works that represent the characteristics of the land and people of Hai Phong", the tradition of "Loyalty - Victory", solidarity, innovation, creativity; at the same time serving the propaganda, promotion, and encouragement of the city's development. This is also a way to promote the creative potential of the fine arts and photography community, and encourage the spirit of artistic work for the Port City.

From an artistic perspective, the competition is not only a creative playground, but also a forum for connecting and sharing inspiration between generations of artists. Painter Pham Anh Tuan, with his painting Tam Bac, told a touching story about the old town.

Artist Tran Hau emphasized the longevity of Hon Dau. Meanwhile, photographer Giang Son Dong captured the bustling atmosphere of the city today. These works, when placed side by side, become a multi-dimensional mirror reflecting a Hai Phong that is changing strongly, but still keeping intact its cultural and historical roots. In the spirit of the whole country celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day, the exhibition is like an affirmation that Hai Phong today is rising with the country, carrying within it faith and aspiration, both proud of its tradition and eager to conquer new heights.

Art is the “companion” of the Port City - where the beauty of nature, history and people are sublimated through the colors of painting, through the light of photography, so that Hai Phong appears both close and aspirational, both calm and bright.

SEA COUNTY

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/ve-dep-thanh-pho-cang-qua-lang-kinh-my-thuat-va-nhiep-anh-520579.html