Viet Nam News
HA NOI — Veteran photographer Le Vuong won the Grand Prize at the annual Bui Xuan Phai-For Love of Ha Noi Awards by Vietnam News Agency’s The Thao Van Hoa (Sport & Culture) newsppaper yesterday.
Bui Xuan Phai-for Love of Ha Noi Awards were launched in 2008. The awards are named after renowned painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-88) in honour of his career and aims to spread his love for Ha Noi. The awards are well respected and honour the contributions of individuals and organisations to society, culture and the arts in Ha Noi.
Ninety-eight-year-old Vuong is among the Viet Nam Museum of Fine Arts’s first employees. His photos, kept at the museum, are an invaluable resource.
“I will try my best to continue taking beautiful images of our country,” Vuong said.
Vuong engaged in photography after buying a camera for his trip around Indochina. He has kept his passion for taking pictures alive and has won many prizes, such as artistic title A and silver medal by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP), Bifota prize in Germany, second prize at a photo exhibition in the Soviet Union and ACCU prize in Japan.
“Vuong takes photos of old Ha Noi, recording moments in a very artistic manner,” poet Bang Viet, chairman of the jury board at the award ceremony, said.
The jury includes history professor and Chairman of Viet Nam History Association Phan Huy Le, Deputy General Director of Vietnam News Agency Ngo Ha Thai, Permanent Deputy Chairman of Viet Nam Journalists Association Ho Quang Loi and Deputy Chairman of Viet Nam Architects’ Association Hoang Dao Kinh.
The jurors also presented the Idea Prize, the Job Prize and the Work Prize at the ceremony.
Ha Noi’s People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung received the Idea Prize for his plan to beautify the city by growing one million new trees and building 25 new parks, five of which aim to meet international and regional standards.
“I thank late painter Bui Xuan Phai’s family and the jury board for encouraging the people and the authorities of Ha Noi City,” Chung said.
“The idea to beautify Ha Noi City is to provide green areas to city dwellers. I promise to make the idea a reality.”
Work has already begun. The ground-breaking of the Kim Quy cultural, tourism and amusement park in Vinh Ngoc Commune in Ha Noi’s suburban district of Dong Anh was undertaken on September 2.
Covering more than 100ha, the park is inspired by the story of the Co Loa spiral-shaped citadel (now located in Dong Anh District of Ha Noi), which was built by King An Duong Vuong in third century BC with the help of the legendary Golden Turtle God.
Most of the park will be covered by trees and lakes, making it a space for visitors to enjoy nature.
American James Joseph Kendall and his Keep Hanoi Clean group were awarded the Job Prize. Living in Viet Nam for the past three years, the 34-year-old English teacher from the Xuan La Primary School in Tay Ho District observed many local environmental problems and came up with his project as an effort “to make people realise the need to protect the environment more”.
“I’m feeling happy. I want to thank everyone who donated their time and/or money to this project,” Kendall said.
“Without all of our supporters, the project wouldn’t be what it has become. I’m so grateful to have started this amazing movement and I’m not going to ever give up.
It’s true that my love for Ha Noi and Viet Nam are the driving forces that catapulted me into action. It’s my love for Ha Noi that keeps me going and it’s the love from Ha Noi that gives me hope for a brighter future,” he added.
Established in May, Keep Hanoi Clean has some 50 active members. Its activities take place throughout the week, including work days, so the project’s Facebook page calls for the participation of anyone who is concerned about the environment.
French singer and song-writer La Grande Sophie and fine arts researcher Phan Ngoc Khue shared the Work Prize.
Starting her career in the 1990s, Sophie first experience fame in 2004 when her third album If It Were Me earned her the first Victoire de la Musique, one of the France’s major music awards.
She visited Viet Nam recently after she composed the song Hanoi where she sang about her attachment to the city.
Bruno Asseray, the French embassy’s cultural attache and the Cultural Centre’s director, received the award on behalf of the singer
Khue won the award for his book Tranh Dan Gian Hang Trong-Ha Noi (Hang Trong-Ha Noi Folklore Painting).
The 600-page book with 476 paintings is the fruit of his 30-year career in research and collecting paintings. — VNS