43 Writers never fail to mention artists. The one I am going to write about now is Bagyi Aung Soe. He is an artist. He has been painting since he was young. He still paints. He is quite old. His hair and beard are turning grey. He can't hear well. In short, he is an old man. But he still paints. If I state, “Artists paint till they die,” I don’t think anyone would disagree. 44 So no one would disagree with “He is the artist,” I guess. I believe speaking about his artworks is better than sharing about his life and experiences. My sister Win Win used to talk about an art teacher very often when I was studying in a school in the city May. She was studying at TTC, which I previously attended at Pyay Road.1 (There was always an art teacher at TTC at that time). She was reading Grade 4, I think. According to her, that art teacher was a very kind-hearted person. She seemed to be very respectful of him; she talked about him very often. She said he was very poor. I had the impression that artists were poor, but what she said was exaggerated, I thought. Still, I had no idea as to who he might be. When I was at TTC (I studied there until Grade 6), my art teacher was U Hla Bau. He died in July 1949 (I often write about him), so I simply assumed that my sister had a new one. I did not try to find out who he was. It was too late when I realised that he was Bagyi Aung Soe. He had just returned from Rabindranath Tagore’s university of Śāntiniketan at that time. 1
TTC refers to the Teacher Training College (Kamayut Township). It is a high school. Trainee teachers have to work there. If a young student says he or she is at TTC, it means that he or she is a student there. Kin Maung Yin and Zaw Zaw Aung, “Bagyi Aung Soe,” in Ideal of Art (Yangon: Shwe Parabaik Sapay, 1997), 43-47. Translated by Pann Hmone Wai; edited by Yin Ker.
1
AungSoeillustrations.org
Kin Maung Yin and Zaw Zaw Aung, “Bagyi Aung Soe,” in Ideal of Art (Yangon: Shwe Parabaik Sapay, 1997), 43-47.
45 I am not contented that I am only seeking to see his mind this late now. He is unable to really do what he likes to. He would say, "It's true," if you asked him. The situation here in Myanmar does not give him the chance to. Everyone in this country has to accept it. And so does he. However, what he has done in those circumstances and climate are remarkable for the world of Burmese Art. We still do not have the kind of writer that methodically studies an artist’s life and works here in Myanmar. There should be by now. Well, I should not fail to speak about his art.2 His art is the result of his deep wish. He is one who does everything through thought. (How can an ordinary reader understand this?) His brush or pencil or nib moves freely on paper or canvas as he moves them. You might then remark of him, "Oh, he draws as he likes!" Sure. Exactly. He draws as he likes. Then what? You have the right to ask whether his works are good. 46 The answer is: good. Sometimes extremely good! Never bad. His paintings and drawings prove this. I dare say this after knowing his works for thirty years. I would argue against anyone saying, "They aren't good!" I do not feel like talking about isms like most do here. For me, the ism does not matter. Labelling his works is a matter of nomenclature. An entity is the same regardless of its given names. Please do not try to persuade me with anything that Shakespeare said. The paintings he created are lovely and must be collected. We need to know the value of art. Our mind must be aware of their aesthetic value and appreciate it. 2
The Burmese word used here means both “art” and “painting” [Burmese: ပန္းခ်ီ]. Kin Maung Yin and Zaw Zaw Aung, “Bagyi Aung Soe,” in Ideal of Art (Yangon: Shwe Parabaik Sapay, 1997), 43-47. Translated by Pann Hmone Wai; edited by Yin Ker.
2
AungSoeillustrations.org
Later, I think he worked there to earn some money, although he had many dreams he wanted to realise. He was probably filled with love and interest for art and it must have been on his mind.
Myanmar needs to know art. Do not make pompous claims such as, “Myanmar’s art would be known worldwide!” The world will look up to our works of art only when we look up to them and value them first. We can take the artworks of Japan as an example. Well, let's get back to Aung Soe. Many people think he is mad and does as he pleases. Right, “mad” is an honour for the artist. 47 They say “mad” because they actually do not know art. In fact, he is “extraordinary.” As the closing sentence, I want to state that many people still need to know the difference between being extreme and extraordinary. Note: This was written before he passed away. Aung Soe died in 1990. Aung Soe (1924–1990)
Translated by Pann Hmone Wai Edited by Yin Ker
Kin Maung Yin and Zaw Zaw Aung, “Bagyi Aung Soe,” in Ideal of Art (Yangon: Shwe Parabaik Sapay, 1997), 43-47. Translated by Pann Hmone Wai; edited by Yin Ker.
3
AungSoeillustrations.org
The twentieth century is almost over.