“Yes, my friend’s name is Tung Dien”
On the afternoon of September 13, Hanoi’s artists sadly announced to each other that Tung Dien (as his artist friends called People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung) had passed away. For the past 10 years, despite battling cancer, Hoang Ha Tung remained healthy and surprisingly optimistic. He was present at almost every party whenever he received a call from his friends.
Portrait of People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung taken by People’s Artist Thu Ha. Photo: FBNV
Over the years, whenever it appears anywhere, anytime… Hoang Ha Tung also arrogant and different when appearing in floral overalls, a hat with stars or badges, a white beard, dark skin… According to Meritorious Artist Chieu Xuan, all the clothes he wears are chosen by himself, designed by himself and sewn by others. The slightly “crazy” style in both lifestyle and artistic creation has created the brand Tung Dien – a person that if you know him long enough and understand him deeply enough, you will recognize the warmth and affection in him.
Tung Dien has many friends in the art world. There are friendships that have lasted 30 years, 40 years such as: Do Hong Quan, Trinh Le Van, Le Hong Chuong, Pham Viet Thanh, People’s Artist Le Khanh, People’s Artist Thu Ha, musician Giang Son… Among them, because they are very close friends, there was a story that Tung Dien – Hoang Ha Tung loved People’s Artist Thu Ha. However, the reality is that People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung is in love with another “muse” and not the girl he always considered a “comrade”.
Souvenir photos of Hoang Ha Tung with Thu Ha. Photo: FBNV
The relationship between People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung and People’s Artist Thu Ha starting when he worked as an art designer for plays at the Hanoi Drama Theater. The two got along well, then became close… especially because they shared a love of eating pho on Bat Dan Street (Hanoi). Almost every winter morning, they often invited each other to eat pho at this familiar restaurant.
People’s Artist Thu Ha told Dan Viet that every time he missed her, People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung would drive his “ladybug” (an old Volkswagen) to the street and park it in front of her house, calling her to invite her to eat Pho Bat Dan. Her wrinkled and disheveled clothes and hair always made her neighbors curious. Many times, the neighbors were so surprised that they asked: “Who is that?”, Thu Ha replied: “My friend, his name is Tung Dien”. After hearing the answer, the neighbors nodded, seeming to understand the meaning of the name.
Every time they go out to eat pho, People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung always takes a place in line and serves. Every few weeks, if they don’t see each other, don’t invite each other to eat pho, or hang out around Hoan Kiem Lake, they miss each other unbearably. When Hoang Ha Tung bought a “ladybug” and rushed to Thu Ha’s house to pick her up, she laughed out loud. But Thu Ha and many of her friends were happy for Hoang Ha Tung because he would rather ride this old car than swing with a big motorbike on the street, not knowing when he would fall.
People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung is passionately in love with Le Van.
People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung and Thu Ha enjoy eating Pho Bat Dan. Photo: FBNV
Because we are close to each other Thu Ha and Hoang Ha Tung literally a close brotherly love. In the phone of People’s Artist Thu Ha, the photo she took of her brother takes up quite a lot of space. In the eyes of the “golden branch” female artist, Tung Dien – Hoang Ha Tung is a big brother. A brother who on the outside seems a bit rough, thorny, different, and individualistic… but on the inside is a warm, kind heart. He is always kind to everyone. People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung loves to paint but not everyone paints… he only paints people who really bring him a lot of emotions.
Because they had been close friends for so long, there was a time when they were always together… so there was a time when people rumored that Tung Dien and Thu Ha were in love with each other. However, everyone who was close to Tung Dien knew that he was only infatuated with Meritorious Artist Le Van. This infatuation was so famous that even Hoang Ha Tung’s wife, who was 17 years younger than the artist, knew about it. Some people said that it was a love story that spanned centuries, the love story of the most infatuated person of all time, who was still infatuated and madly in love even when he was old.
Hoang Ha Tung with a moment of contemplation next to his work. Photo: FBNV
People’s Artist Hoang Ha Tung was madly in love with Le Van. Even when he was sick, every time he opened his eyes, the first person he wanted to find was Le Van. Tung Dien’s wife said: “Even when he was lying down, he would open his eyes and ask: “Where is Le Van?”, “Has Le Van arrived yet?”…
According to many artist friends, Hoang Ha Tung has been in love with Le Van since she was a young girl. Among his famous paintings is “Nang Me va hoa trang nguyen” (The Lady and the Poinsettia) which used Le Van as a model, causing a lot of controversy. Explaining the reason for the character being “as blind”, Hoang Ha Tung once said: “When drawing a portrait, I try to achieve the character’s spirit. And I don’t add anything more when the portrait is complete.
Le Van has very beautiful eyes and I was helpless, unable to draw the eyes in the painting as beautiful as the eyes in real life. I drew and erased those eyes. That painting was bought by a Vietnamese collector, then sold to a Singaporean collector and then to a British collector… and its fate was very uncertain even though it was honored. I followed that painting like a special child in my brood.”