Bagyi Aung Soe, “To Not Take the Wrong Path,” Publication Unidentified, ca 1980.
1 One night, on the way back from the Bolshoi National Theatre with Saya U Chin Sein (movie director Shwe Nyar Maung) in the heavy snow, he said to me,1 “Hey Aung Soe, you refer to yourself as an artist [Burmese: အာတစ်] /ARTIST everywhere you go, just like anyone else from our country who doesn’t differentiate between sculptors, painters and photographers and refers to all of them as ARTIST [sic]. Do you know that stage actors, movie actors and musicians are also regarded as ARTIST [sic]? A painter should be called a PAINTER, and a PAINTER for ILLUSTRATION, an ILLUSTRATOR. Now you call yourself an ARTIST, they wouldn’t know that you’re a painter ARTIST. They might mistake you for a stage actor or a movie actor. They wouldn’t be able to tell.”2 Since that night, I have clearly understood the meaning of the word ARTIST. Previously, I had thought that ARTIST only referred to painters, and I only found out then from Saya U Chin Sein that I was wrong. I was not yet in the movie industry back then. Then, there was a time when U Chin Sein and I shared a room, and he said to me one day, “Aung Soe, do you want to become a movie actor? You check yourself in the mirror once when you go out, and once again when you enter; you almost break the mirror.” I realised that I had a little bit of movie bug in me. I also found the art of movie-making interesting when I went on an excursion trip to Mosfilm Studios with U Chin Sein.3 After we returned from Moscow, I lost contact with U Chin Sein. I never told him that I wanted to work in the movie industry. 2
1
U Chin Sein (Director Shwe Nyar Maung) was the Chairman of Myanmar Motion Picture Association from 1974 to 1986. 2 Characteristic of usage in the modern period, the Burmese word meaning “painting” is often used to stand for “art”, and likewise “painter” for “artist”. 3 Mosfilm Studio was the largest and oldest film studio in Russia and Europe. It produced films by Tarkovsky, Eisenstein and Kurosawa. Bagyi Aung Soe, “To Not Take the Wrong Path,” Publication Unidentified, ca 1980.
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I heard remotely that he had become the Chairman of the Motion Picture Council. By then, I had been in the movie industry for some time and was already tiring of it. As a matter of fact, it was through Saya U Chin Sein that I caught the movie bug. Come to think of it, even before the War, I already had respect for U Chin Sein as the writer Shwe Nyar Maung, even though we did not know each other in person. Ever since I was a teenager and watched the movies which he made as Shwe Nyar Maung – be they with sound, dubbed or silent – I had been impressed and wanted to become like him. Back then, my favorite actor was U Chin Sein too. Everything he did was admirable and he became a role model for me. Visiting and learning about the film studios in Moscow made me catch the movie bug. Gradually, I realised that I had become obsessed with movie-making; I could not even paint. I was drifting into the movie industry and I did not know what I was doing. One day, in a book on Indonesia by Ludu U Hla, I read that he had met Kartika, the daughter of my friend Mr. Affandi, and that 3? she asked if he knew Aung Soe. When he said yes, she asked what Aung Soe was doing, and U Hla told her that I was in the movies. She shook her head and said that she felt sorry for the Burmese art world since I was a very good painter. I felt sad after reading that. People can only excel at one thing. Maybe we can do two or three things at the same time but to excel at all is nearly impossible. When I understood this, my friend U Win Pe, the principal from the Mandalay State School of Fine Arts, said the same thing. He is now known as Director U Win Pe. “Master, you are superb in painting, but you can never be number one in the movies. Why don’t you paint again? We would really love to see your new works.” How smart U Win Pe is! I liked his advice and followed it. I am painting again now just as he reminded me before it was too late. I can never thank my smart friend U Win Pe enough. Today he is a successful movie director and I am doing great at painting. The seed of modernism that I sowed is also found to be getting well received. 4? Besides, my income is better these days now that I am painting again. I can finally carve a niche in the art scene since my name is becoming recognised.
Bagyi Aung Soe, “To Not Take the Wrong Path,” Publication Unidentified, ca 1980.
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AungSoeillustrations.org
If I had continued to make movies, I would probably have to beg for money when I am senile. I can hence say that I am lucky now. This is the reason why we have to think long and hard before going into the movie industry. Approach good directors like U Win Pe. If someone like him thinks you can do it, he might even take you to win the Academy award. If he says it is impossible, do not be discouraged. Just stand back and analyse what you should do. I owe Sayagyi U Win Pe this success towards the end of my life. A weightlifter cannot be a sprinter, but he can be a weightlifting champion. We should always keep this example in mind. I write this as a reminder for everyone: to not take the wrong path. Apologies if there are any mistakes. Bagyi Aung Soe
Translated by Kriz Chan Nyein
Bagyi Aung Soe, “To Not Take the Wrong Path,” Publication Unidentified, ca 1980.
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AungSoeillustrations.org