THE WARM LAMP
Synopsis
Mother's love is sacred and noble, as vast as the sky and the sea. She is the one and only, irreplaceable by anyone. While a mother can take the place of others, no one can take her place. She is the most wonderful being. Through the metaphorical art of sand painting, People's Artist Hà Bắc seeks to express the profound emotions of motherhood. Utilizing hand-drawn sand images combined with visual art perspectives, this performance is set against the backdrop of the traditional folk song "Sitting Sadly Remembering My Mother of the Past", a poem by Nguyen Duy, performed by People's Artist Quoc Chiem.
Director's biography
People’s Artist Nguyen Ha Bac is a pioneering and influential figure in Vietnamese animation. With over 42 years dedicated to the art, he is not only a director and illustrator but also a trailblazer in bringing 3D animation technology to Vietnam. Born on July 5, 1957, in Hanoi, with ancestral roots in Thừa Thiên Huế, Nguyễn Hà Bắc demonstrated a talent for visual arts from a young age. He pursued his artistic education at the Hanoi University of Fine Arts, completing all levels from elementary to university. In 1993, he was sent to France for advanced training at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Art de Bordeaux, specializing in animated film directing. He began his career at the Vietnam Animation Studio in 1976, taking on various roles including character animator, concept artist, and director. Notably, he was the first in Vietnam to both script and direct a 3D animated film – The Green Frog’s Dream, which won the Silver Lotus Award at the 2007 Vietnam Film Festival. Building on that success, he directed The Historic Decision, a 3D animated film about General Võ Nguyên Giáp, which made a significant impact when it was screened during the national mourning period of the legendary general. Throughout his career, he has created many beloved animated works such as The Magic Gourd, The Transforming Mouse, The Legend of the Stilt House, The Legend of the Mosquito, The Crow and the Peacock, and Life, among others. His films have received numerous prestigious awards, including the Golden Lotus, Silver Lotus, and Golden Kite Awards. In 2017, he was honored with the State Prize for Literature and Arts. He was awarded the title Meritorious Artist in 2001 and People’s Artist in 2012. Nguyễn Hà Bắc has also served as a judge at several renowned international animation festivals, including Annecy (France, 1995), Brussels (Belgium, 1996), and Mumbai (India, 2000), contributing to the global presence of Vietnamese animation.