“The universe in mind is the Universe in the heart” – Artist NHH when referring to artist Truong Be.
“Can I send a salutation to the enthusiastic artist – artist Truong Be. His whole life immersed in his passion to art”.
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Artist Truong Be – An individual has attached to conventional lacquer art, a face, a portrait of the artist who devoted for domestic Fine Art.
Right after the Congress of Vietnam Fine Arts Association, December, 2019, learned that he did not attend in the Congress because of his health’s status. My hunch told me to find him right away.
When the Lunar New Year holiday ended, on 4th January, 2020, I flew to Hue with joyful mood of the successful opening of the exhibition “Artist’s portrait – Sculptor Ta Quang Bao”. I eagerly brought my heart to art, a respect to artists and visited artist Truong Be’s house. Hoping to make a program “Artist’s portrait – Truong Be artist” in 2020 – as one of the patronizing programs of Lunet Art for artists who have devoted their whole life for Vietnam Fine art.
My worry was true, his health was not good. He was sitting on a wheelchair while welcoming us, after the therapy. He wore a felt hat to conceal the wound on his head and still kept a familiar appearance, with a smiling spirit. He greeted us with a firm handshake.
It seems to me that he must be a man with strong will overcomes the pain, ignoring the sick body, must be extremely brave and chivalrous to smile with that pain.
When we came, he still desired to paint, desired to open his next exhibition in October, 2020 (it must be a coincidence, I was joyful since he registered his exhibition right on my birthday!).
To him, painting is not just a passion, love, but his meaning of life!
- Teacher! I am Luneta Phan – the Art Director of Lunet Art, I came from Hanoi to see you, teacher.
- I haven’t taught you what day do you call me Teacher? – then he smiled half jokingly, half truthfully.
- To me, your dedicating life for art – has taught me many lessons. I have learned from your dedication, from your artworks, from your artistic labour.
After that, the story gradually opened…
I shared that Lunet Art wish to have his presence in the exhibition “Abstractionism and expressionism”, an abstract style on lacquer material. However, he refused since there were not many lacquer paintings. He shared that he was moved by what we had done for art.
The portrait of Truong Be
Like a harbinger, He said to me like a message, an advice to the young artists – a testament for the following artist generetion: “An artist, he not only has an abstact mind but also is a philosopher”.
Seeing his will, I have included in the message of this exhibition:
“Lunet Art hope our young artist generation these days have enough will to overcome themselves. Lunet Art also hope that the artist will always carry within an aspiration, a flame on the path of creating art. the artists shall keep a will and a strong creative fire burning in their minds”.
I came back Hanoi to prepare for the new exhibtion, full of thought. Feeling still the enthusiasism with the hand shake as the message, he said: “Must prove the lacquer material is an academic material – complete, must show to the world that. The artist prove by his artworks – not enough, there must be researchers, critics and the government” – looking to my eyes, held my hand firmly, he smiled.
I told myslef to do the best, to bring Vietnamese lacquer art to the art-loving community in the country and oversea, we will search and honor artists like him, will operate for artists who devoted their whole life for Vietnamese arts. As the good thing they did for this life, we should do something, to honor them!
If can, we desire to honour them when they are still alive.
A big regret, a deep sadness, when learning that he has gone. Lunet Art wish to send the greeting to you, may you rest in peace in the golden spring!
Hanoi, 09/04/2020
Luneta Phan
