Exhibition on Mau Than Offensive opens

Photos by veteran photographer Lam Tan Tai at the exhibition Ky Uc Khong The Nao Quen (Memories Forever) at the HCM City Photography Association. The exhibit features 80 photos of the Mau Than Offensive in Spring 1968. (Photo courtesy of the organiser)

The event, Ky Uc Khong The Nao Quen (Memories Forever), features more than 80 photos related to the Vietnamese people and soldiers, and historic events during the offensive. 

Highlighted works are captured by the late artist Lam Tan Tai, first general chairman of the association.

His collection of 21 black-and-white photos feature Vietnamese soldiers in battles during the offensive and people celebrating the great victory in Spring 1975.

His lively photos impressed viewers attending the event’s opening ceremony on January 11.

“The Mau Than Offensive played a very important role in our country’s victory in 1975,” said Nguyen Thanh Tam, chairman of the association, at the event.

“Our exhibition aims to give respect and memorialise Vietnamese soldiers and people who died for the country’s independence,” he said. “Photographer and reporter Tai was seriously injured while shooting photos during the war. An injury caused him to lose sight in one eye. His photos are invaluable.”

Tai, a native of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, joined the revolution in 1947 when he was 12 years old. He moved to the north and was later sent to study the arts and photography at Lomonosov Moscow State University.  

He worked for the Liberation News Agency and then Vietnam News Agency and captured thousands of photos of the Mau Than Offensive in Spring 1968 and other battles in 1974. 

Colour photos of Vietnam Heroic Mothers and women after the war by Huynh Pham Dung, Kieu Anh Dung,Vo Quoc Thanh and Kim Chi bring messages about peace.

The exhibition is free from 9am to 6pm at 122 Suong Nguyet Anh Street in District 1. It closes on January 17./.

VNA