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Researcher Nguyen Xuan Nhan compiles documents after a fact-finding tour in An Lao district. Photo H.T |
Many artists and writers in Binh Dinh have still devoted their energy to their career despite their old age. Time could take their health but not their “youth” in their mind.
Among old artists in Binh Dinh, 86-year-old poet Van Bich is the oldest one. When coming to Hoai Nhon district to visit a Vietnamese Heroic Mother two years ago, he joked that Vietnamese Heroic Mother was still two years younger than him.
He’s always taken pains to be on fact-finding tour, looking for inspiration to compose many poems. When coming to his house, I was told he was traveling in HCM City and would come back one month later. I really admired the way he lives and works.
74-year-old meritorious artist Nguyen Kiem is now making all-out efforts to contribute to bai choi. His latest book entitled “Xuan that thap” (70-year spring) won a Dao Tan-Xuan Dieu award.
Meritorious artist Dao Duy Kien has devoted his life to Tuong (classical drama) art at the age of 68. He’s had his books published, including “Nhac tuong” (the Music of Tuong) and “Khuc nhac long” (a piece of music in my heart).
72-year-old photographers Pham Van Chai drew the admiration of other insiders in recent years for he’s won many prizes in competitions of provincial magnitude.
“Photography makes me feel younger,” he said. “Whenever possible, I always go with other photographers to seek inspiration.”
In spite of devoting all time and energy to studies on Tuong, Vu Ngoc Lien has still showed no signs of tiredness when he was 87.
“My hobby is to travel everywhere, but when doing research I’m absorbed in my work,” he said. His study on Dao Tan won the highest Dao Tan-Xuan Dieu award.
He is now busy focusing on a study themed “Nguyen Dieu – an artistic tutor”. He is also going to participate in the congress of Vietnam Association of Stage Artists in Ha Noi.
Younger than Lien, Loc Xuyen Dang Quy Dich is now 70. “As far as I’m concerned, no work means punishment,” he said. “I still spend at least 4 hours a day studying my issues regardless of my weak health.”
He is having his four books published and some are the final drafts. He also tended to present all his books to Binh Dinh Library in the future.
76-year-old researcher Nguyen Xuan Nhan has made significant contributions to folklore arts when assigned as head of an affiliate of Vietnam Folklore Arts Association in Binh Dinh.
Recently, he went to all communes in An Lao district during two months to do a study on H’re ethnic minority’s traditional culture. “I had to walk several km everyday, even 20 km when coming to houses in the forest,” he said. “However, thanks to this I could understand everything in detail, offering valuable proof to my study.
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