Painting the vibrant colors of spring
Each artwork in the “Tet Drawing Contest”, while bearing its own unique mark, conveys the same message: the aspiration for greater heights and the enduring spirit of the younger generation.
In 2026, our nation enters a new milestone of development, inspired by the powerful gallop of the Horse – a symbol guiding strategic breakthroughs across various fields as the country continues to move forward in this era of growth. Beyond representing perseverance, aspiration, innovation, success, and renewal, the image of the horse also reflects our cultural roots, martial spirit, and strength of will.
Taking part in the “Tet Drawing Contest” with the horse as the central theme, our Jaguars brought forward artworks filled with unique meanings and personal touches. Sharing her wishes for the new year, Nguyen Dao Van Lam presented a horse that “has a gentle yet strong appearance, symbolising endurance and perseverance. The soft, warm colours create a peaceful feeling of Tet and the arrival of spring.”
For Trinh Nhu Bao Ngoc, she shared: “My Tet painting features a horse as the main focus. My favourite detail is the red horse decorated with patterns, which looks both strong and lively. The colour red represents luck and joy at the beginning of the year, while the gold coins surrounding it express my wish for a prosperous and abundant new year.”
Nguyen Quynh Thao Linh’s horse symbolises persistence, as “it is a war horse returning home from the battlefield – the place where it was born. It has travelled a long journey and, despite its exhaustion, has never given up. As it approaches home, it realises that spring has arrived. Apricot blossoms bloom brightly, signalling a new year filled with joy, happiness, and good fortune. The horse lifts its head high, wishing for peace in its homeland.” Meanwhile, for Le Nhat Minh Anh, the horse reflects a more relaxed spirit as it is “leisurely enjoying the breeze in a corner of the painting, as this is the Year of the Horse and I wanted my horse to feel calm and comfortable in the Vietnamese spring weather.”
From Primary to Secondary, students actively participated in the competition, creating distinctive artworks that showcase their creativity. Selected pieces have also been chosen by the School to design special red envelopes for Tet 2026 – a meaningful gift for this festive occasion.
Students also extended their heartfelt wishes to the entire Sydney School community for a joyful year filled with enthusiasm for learning, good health, and success. Representing our happy Jaguars, Nguyen Quynh Thao Linh shared: “On the occasion of the New Year, I wish everyone prosperity, peace, and happiness. I wish our teachers good health and continued passion to guide us on our learning journey. I also wish our grandparents and parents good health. I hope that in the new year, everyone will continue to love and support one another to make life better each day.”
We hope that in the year ahead, Sydney School will continue to achieve new successes, carrying forward the breakthrough spirit of the Year of the Horse.
