In Hai Phong city, alley 398 in Tran Thanh Ngo street (Kien An province) is known to young people as "fresco" alley with wide-format, eye-catching colorful wall art.

A total of 10 murals with a total length of about 30 meters is even more of a hot destination as we are closer to the end of the year as more people have time to pay a visit.

The degraded, peeling walls of Lane 398 that was once an eyesore now have been replaced by beautiful artwork made by Tran Hoan, 32, (Hai Phong) with four other people.

A resident of alley 398 named Tran Hoan leaded the team of young talents to turn the old mossy walls where he lives into art works.Photo: Lao Dong

Knowing the good intention of the passionate artists, the community approved by 100%. Residents even praised these young talents for painting big and beautiful murals in such a short period of time.

Photo: Lao Dong

Hard work paid off

Hoan and his team worked together for about a month to implement the work so that the paintings are finished in time for the holiday wall with different themes such as Hai phong, the joy of welcoming Spring, Lunar new year, Year of the Tiger.

The art work includes a total of 10 murals with a total length of about 30 meters. Photo: Lao Dong

During the implementation process, the group encountered many difficulties because most of the walls were badly degraded. After a lot of trial and error, the young artist found spray paint to be the most effective solution for the grimy surface.

"There are many difficulties, but the members all worked hard because they want to breathe revive the alley and transmit positive energy to everyone," Hoan said.

Among the paintings, the highlight is the painting of the five tigers called "Binh An" (Safe and sound) to welcome the spring of the Tiger in 2022. The painting has a red background, 5 tigers with different colors and expressions, in the middle is one holding red enveloped of lucky money.

Photo: Lao Dong

The painting has a red background, 5 tigers with different colors and expressions.Photo: Lao Dong

Art making by the people, for the people

Hoan and his friends want to spread street art to even more alleys and streets in their hometown. The team believes street art has artistic values like no other art form does, and it is the direct influence to the people who see these walls everyday.

"Angel" by Tran Hoan. Photo: Lao Dong

Hoan believes that street art when combined with traditional local values ​will create different, vibrant impressions.

“In December, my tattoo store had to close because of the epidemic. Seeing the old mossy walls, ugly and unsuitable in my neighborhood, I came up with the idea of ​​​​drawing colorful pictures to welcome the New Year. The project aims to create joy and excitement for the people in the neighborhood," Hoan said.

The deserted alley became a favorite rendezvous of many young people who came to take pictures. Photo: VnExpress

At alley 398, Nguyen Son (18, visitor) said that this is the first time seeing a residential alley filled with street art.

“Every wall, every corner is skillfully expressed by the artists and the hidden meanings in each picture are very profound. Since it is so beautiful, the small alley is crowded with many visitors and photographers are all eager to see the art and take picture and so am I," Son shared.

Viewer can find the 30 meter long of art piece at the center of Hai Phong city. Each wall tells a different story so they give people the endless possibilities to be express themselves.

People of Hai Phong is grateful of Hoan's meaningful project. This alley celebrates artistic quintessence of contemporary art in particular, with the desire to act as a bridge of modern arts to be closer to the public.

Photo: Lao Dong

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