Students of the University of Arts, Hue University engaged in painting murals in Phong Dien

Beautified with murals

In the new school year, students of nursery schools and primary schools in Dien Mon Commune, Phong Dien District, back to school, were amazed at the new face of their schools. From the walls painted only with one color, they are now decorated with vivid murals about people, life, famous landscapes, homeland islands, etc. All of those created a joyful and exciting atmosphere at the start of the new school year.

To get hundreds of square meters of mural paintings at schools in Dien Mon Commune, more than 60 students and lecturers from the University of Arts, Hue University did paintings during a week of the 2024 Summer Youth Volunteer Campaign. With their own advantages, students engaging in painting not only freely create art but also bring new vitality to works, schools, and public places.

 Students visited the art exhibition at the University of Arts, Hue University

Nguyen Van Vien Phuong, a University of Arts student, said that summer volunteering and other community-oriented university activities always offer many opportunities for practical experiences, spiritually significant for students. First of all, these activities enable youth union members and young people to take a positive view on community and social activities; thereby, helping students to be more confident in collective activities. In addition, students also learn more soft skills and gain experience from practical work.

“In terms of expertise, each trip to do practical painting will be a time to learn more about experience. After each journey, hundreds of paintings are left behind. Excitement is the driver for young people to continue their journey to do paintings for the community. For me, these activities help me get closer to many people and destinations, which offers me a more objective view on life and career. Living is not only for myself but also knowing how to bring value to the community and society,” said Nguyen Van Vien Phuong.

Student Cao Tra My did not hide her pride in bringing her paintings to new lands, bringing beauty to constructions and schools after each trip. Even prouder is that those paintings become new “check-in” spots for localities, contributing to socioeconomic development. After each trip, I have gained more professional experience. That is how to choose the proper background and theme; how to combine colors, adjust the proportions between characters and backgrounds in each painting, etc. Reaching each new land, exploring life, and landscapes, and then recreating them in paintings also offer me valuable resources in the future. That is why this female student was involved tirelessly in every activity.

Unexpected fruits

According to Master Chu Tien Luc, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of the University of Arts, Hue University, in order to enhance students' expertise, aside from organizing mural painting sessions at schools and cultural sites, the university often do many activities: organizing art exhibitions at university and museums; organizing direct drawing, sketching, and composing at historical sites and ancient villages; mobilizing the students to participate in art contests; designing communication publications and logos; establishing the clubs of sketching, photography, and fashion. Further, the university also honored the students who won the art awards... to encourage students to continue artistic creation.

From the movements and activities to bring art to the community, many University of Arts students matured rapidly, leaving their imprint through the prestigious awards. For example, at the painting contest "Lyricism in the Ancient Village" within the framework of the “Old Scent of Ancient Village” Festival held in Phuoc Tich (Phong Hoa, Phong Dien) in August 2024, the highest awards all went to students of the University of Arts.

Student Le Thi Nho - the second-prize winner of the contest said that when she came to the ancient village, time passed slowly. It was a time to learn about and penetrate the life and culture typical of the land. With the cultural depth of the ancient village, she also found a different style of creation for herself from before.

Most recently, the Thua Thien Hue Literature and Arts Association (the standing agency of the award) announced the results of the 7th Thua Thien Hue Literature and Arts Award (2018 - 2023). In the category of works and projects specializing in fine arts, student Le Trung Kien excellently carried off the C prize. In 2024, Kien also won the Young Author Award at the Fine Arts Exhibition of Region 5 - North Central held in Thanh Hoa. In early 2024, a work by Kien was selected from 24 works joining the International Fine Arts Exhibition in New York, the USA.

Le Trung Kien shares the secret: artists require experience. Therefore, it is needed for them to engage in many activities, travel a lot to explore new lands, and learn about the unique culture of each place… in order to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge. In the current trend, they can also learn and look up information on the Web. From those factors, they can summarize the creation style and school of your own, etc. Creations will, then, afford value.

Story and photos: Duc Quang