(unedited)

When we, Myanmars, as a rule speak of top ten, we were in a fix and lost for words. Sometimes dared and puzzled, sometimes hard to say who is who. In this particular area, it is hard to select and put tags and make grades. At times, as the saying is, two of a trade seldom agree; may be all of the same trade never agree, as they are too shy and too stiff-necked to recognise and acknowledge who are the top-best. As the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it goes without saying that taste differs. Myanmar art-critics are retarded to gauge and weigh their beloved artists, artistes and writers and say you are the best in a sense. Well, I reckon that it so happens that Myanmars never wish to go to poll and vote and select the best for nothing. For it might cut and bleed the feelings of the contemporary artists.

Come hell or high water, out of labor of love and guts, I dare to list the Top Ten Myanmar contemporary artists as follows:

*** Khin Maung Yin = KMY

* Khin One

* MPP Ye Myint

** Kyee Myint Saw

*** Maung Di (a) Myo Nyunt

*** Po Po

** Nyein Chan Su

*** Win Pe Myint

** PeNyuntWay and

** Myint Swe

This TT List is from a very strong and reliable school in Myanmar. To my knowledge, KMY is *** star, KMS is ** star and WPM is *** star and PNW is ** star. If I am not mistaken, they are not very dynamic and complicated and wordily wise. In the early 60's Khin Maung Yin came back from East Pakistan, performed as an architect for years for a foreign firm, pursed a fistful of dollars, got Myanmar, shot 3 films and, luckily, I mean, fortunately he lost his fortune and got onto a right track. So saying, he became an artist, modern abstract painter in the avant-garde of Myanmar. Oh! My! Lord Buddha, he painted like a robot, from time to time like a deranged nut-case, gave them all and lived under an oath of celibacy, queer in a sense, unique in emotion, strayed as a translator, English Teacher, principal, clairvoyant, seance mediator, and an author. He is like a drifting reed in a vast and hostile river, touching all sides of filthy muddy banks, sometimes kissed to the parterres for 40 years, in addition, visited by troubles, he becomes well-known and popular.

What kindle me about him, are the facts that ask me what is KMY, who is KMY, where is KMY and above all why he is living in a ramshackled shanty, bamboo floor and walling with thatched roof, why he is so fond of the bitterness of poverty, why he is so proud of his beggarly style of living with fishy and shady association. For 40 years, I have been thinking of him. The same knotty problem arises for ever and a day. But this time I wonder whether he is really insane or sane. Well, by the grace of God, he is a painter, an amateur. I specially suppose to tell you the truth, I prefer the professionals with dynamic and diabolic characters. But sometimes, the amateurs are hit by the striking positions and stroke and the works are treated as masterpieces. I think, KMY, himself was dazed, lazed and intoxicated with the European wine and Myanmar grog and Russian's Vodka. I think he is influenced by Van Gogh, Picasso and Peteson. By the flight of time his maturity was exposed. He is writing books on Artistic norm, he visits of late Paw Oo Thet etc. To make the story worse, his books became best sellers and his fame and petite notoriety reached to the summit is no time. His personal emblem and logo is shabbiness and poverty systematically laced and kniffed with oddity and abnormality. Well, anyhow, he is in the position of the TT, thawing every minute and embellish our Myanmar society.

Kyee Myint Saw (a) K M S

K M S is a smiling, contented, social, and energetic painter, who lived into the ART BAZAAR from the Institute of Economics. He was a lecturer for many a year. After getting into the valley of arts, he became one of the BAZAAR SPECIALIST, .i.e. His shopping malls, Bazaars, Market, Shan bazaar and all Bazaar paintings lay on the centre of alien concentration . His colours are yellow, brown and strong dark colours and foreign to Myanmars. They are very eye-catching and enticing. If one has a ready money to spare his parting might be the first item to fetch along with. For Myanmar and some aliens and foreigners his paints are very eye-catching and has a strange and foreign impact. He is also a mixture of realism and impressionism and modern drives. Being a member at a higher education, he is dominated and shadowed by many terrible isms and he, himself is sticking to that strange and doubtful ideas. I am retarded to say that, these isms and new concepts keep the creative artists away from the real faulty of creation and inspiration. But, unfortunately, a teacher is a teacher still and once a teacher, always a teacher. So, he should drop his pedagog ideas and be a student of contemporary art. And he should change his chocolate centered spectrum in the nearest future. Big is not enough, small with an adequate touches will sell., I think, May God bless him.

Win Pe Myint (a) W P M

When I mean at the time when he was drawing the Gothic period building of the Supreme Court (High Court) of Myanmar through the window of the Lokanat galleries, Paw Oo Thette, the most respectable and celebrated artist of the moment, came out of his room, which was next door to mine, and said "Tint Lwin, mark my word, this young man, Win Pe Myint will be known far and near. He was painting his canvas with flames of emotion . I did see him, but I was in different to his performance. In addition, I think, this kind of outdoor, in -action drawings are akin to exhibitionism. I think he is one of the exhibitionists and showy persons. He was in a shabby clothes dim in colour, hair uncombed, scattered, poor in personality, at least weak and feeble type to my feeling.

So saying, he became famous by degrees. As his impact or his paintings are so systematic and akin to nature, in addition, added up with arts and wiles of his brushes and expensive and colourful paints those were, no doubt, hard to resist. His painting and sold like hot cakes, his resume was found here and there. In conformity with the law, he has changed a bit. I am very retarded to say that his colours are changing as his moods. As a result, it is beneficial to him for variety is the spice of life for the fine being his paintings are selling and his name is becoming more popular than I ever thought. KMS is rich in followers and friends. Some regarded him as a guru on arts some as a narrowed touched painter. In fact an artist should be a colourful performer. He should pay different roles on different stage in different colours. When an artist displays his skills in layers and in spectrum it is more agreeable and adorable. When an artist sticks to his one and only "ism", it is quite annoying to art-lovers, because art-lovers differ as man differ and tastes differ. Should not he absorb or entertain all walks of people by his multiple skills and presentation. For instance, I do like Van Gogh to my highest height of my bosom and from the very bottom of my heart. But I can find some of his realistic paintings from time to time. I like his paintings with realism and impressionism. As a matter of fact, I cannot find my real liking in his masterpiece likewise, he might have a vast variety of admirers.

Sometimes, I am very uneasy to write that fame dominates and overshadows the free taste and likings of the beholders and art-lovers. I think Vincent v. G is a dead but living hero in the heart of many a man., who are poor or rich but snobs. WPM likes VG's Sunflowers, and he is fond of still and stay lives in the most detailed and time-consuming pains. WPM, is a simple, nice, good-natured, shy, supporting and studious artist. I wrote an article on WPM in "Film - music - poem" a popular and promising magazine in Myanmar in July 1999. Anyhow, I can say that WPM's paintings are "too" pretty and eye-catching. That is a concrete fact and finding which to led to my suspicion and enstragement of him. I am a writer and a critic or at least a would be critic. Being so, I cannot be an apple-polisher and a yes-man on their works only on the fact that they are my close and thick friends. If they are too infantile and unmatured, I must or at least I am bound to write that they need to paint more or feel more or study more or go on tour from continent to continent, coast to coast and from hamlet to hamlet. Do Myanmar TT know the value and application of proper paints canvas, frames ? Do they have fountain- heads and daring and inventive ideas which are the new things under the SUN ? Do they have appropriate and adequate exposure of international masterpieces '? Do they have meaningful and businesslike ideas to transform into oils, waters, acrylics and new modes of presentation ? Do they have real guts and creative faculty to compete with international artists ? WPM should be braver and bolder than present, if he intends to set the Moon on fire or to extinguish the Sun or to bring down the corona of the Saturn ? He should feel the world in person and eliminate his social shyness May WPM be as good and as pretty as his paintings.

He, to my first impression, was a funny, naive, queer, timid and social shy novice in the field of modern art in the late sixties. I first saw him at YT's a founder of the LOKANAT galleries along with MIT Kyaw Min, Pepsi Thein Tun, Michael Myo Nyunt, Paw Oo Thet, Aung Din, Soe Min (Palmist) and Soe Aung (Soothsayer). He lied low and tied his tongue and I did not notice that one day he might set the themes on fire. At that time Paw Oo Thet, Pagyi Maung Ngwe Tun, Bagyi Aung Soe, Thaung Han, Ko Lay, Ba Yin Lay and Khin Maung Yin were living their own fame and were known far and near. Khin One got in and we drank like fish for ages. After some time, I saw, him in the Yangon University Chancellors street, in Kamayut Township in "red suit" woring long hair, with a bundle of standard edition books in his hands, smiling as usual . We had a talk and departed for centuries. As I was on fire on the run so also was he, I thought. We met each other once in a blue moon. He staged a Solo abstract arts exhibition at the Myanmar Medical Association, near the Lake Kandawgyi and as to Maung Di, the great, it was a weird, hard-to-understand and an over-strange show so that one of the aliens came, stood up in the midst of the expo-hall, had a look and ran away. That foreigner was dazed, annoyed and puzzled.

In a word, we can say, at least I may say he gave shocks to lily-liveried rabbit-like people. He was simple but showy; silent but flames were burning in her heart as he belong to a strange family and unique up bringing in Japangyi Workshop in Pyay, lower-mid Myanmar small town which falls on the right way for Aung Lan, Magway and Mandalay. One day to my astonishment, his buddies and sidekicks told me that his father was Japan Veteran who was left in Myanmar during the 2nd World War to make the story thicker, I am uncertain to say that his father was hidden by Myanmar Buddhist monks at a monastery as he was about to be killed by the Myanmar revolutionists. After the war, owing a huge gratitude to Myanmar monks, he did go back to Japan and fell in love with Khin One's mother and Khin One and his siblings were born. One day, Khin One came to my small K.T. School and told me that he is going to Japan to meet with his half brothers. Then he flew out and flew in from time to time. Then after he came back from Japan he became an eccentric and colourful person. He bosomed up an urge to become a vocalist and he dived down into the frozen sounds. He put up at Myaynigone digs and stayed at the YMCA for years as a so-called bachelor and spent his time lavishly. He squandered his money on music, paintings and education. After some time, he brought two of his 1/2 brother, who are Japanese, to my KT school and we had tea and cake together. It was quite a scene to see one Myanmar and two Japanese addressing each other Ah-KoGyi which means Big brother in Myanmar. In a sense, it was a bliss for me as I felt very happy to see halves joking and laughing and pulling their legs lowing. Oh! My! by the real blessing of Lord Buddha, they had a felicitous reunion in Myanmar.

Though simple in style but strange in his sudden moves, he got married and have offspring. Even now I am uncertain on the issue whether simplicity is akin to stunt and enticement. Khin One (a) Kin One, I think Kin One is much better, is known among young people as a good result of his singing.

While I was walking on the uneven and crazy platforms, pavements and downcastring my eyes onto the manholes of the Sule Pagoda Road, may be about (9) years ago, Myo Nyunt (a) Maung Di told me that a young shining star by the name of Po Po became popular and she tipped me off to take a notice of him. As I was straying and I loitering for nothing, I let myself to forget this rising star Po Po. Well, to Po Po? Pou Pou or Po Po my second daughter's name is 'Pou 'Pou, on the other hand, Poe is also well-known in Myanmar due to the popularity of Edgar Allen Poe. Well, so saying it lasted for nearly 10 years to write a sketch of him. With irregular rhythms, I used to hear his name at various corners of Yangon; I got a chance to know his works and shows and success in land and abroad . Being a writer and a teacher, I do have enough or sometimes abundant time to write articles on now superstar. Nevertheless, as he is striving hard to penetrate the walls of the arts arena, I am bound to write a small note on him. I have been asking many an artists to introduce me to him or show me where his above of blessing or his phone number to reach at. All is lost and is in vain. Some do not want to talk about him. So saying they left him in the cold. Why is he lying low in such a rough, rude and rush world. May be a favorite has no friends. May be he is too busy to visit the places next to me. This morning, by a stroke- of luck, I happened to asked Pe Nyunt Way about Po Po and he tipped me off to read in "The Fukuoka Triennial 1999)". So, I can write some lines about him. As I have been sitting at the Lokanat Galleries many years I heard about him every now and them.

Resume de Po Po

He was born in Pathein in 1957 the main city in the Ayeyarwaddy Division, in Myanmar where paddy fields and salt fields are cultivated and processed. Pathein is linked with Hinegyi island, Mawtinsune Pagoda, Yankintaung, Chaungthar Beach, Htone boo ward, South West Command, Higher institutions and above all, Pathein Bamboo umbrella industry. He has been living and working in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar. He studied by himself and he could be named self-taught or self-made artist. I feel a bit insecurity whenever I came across a self-taught and self-made man. For as I am one of the self-made. I came to realize on the fact that the self-taught and the selfmade are lacking of the proper training and lectures strutted by well-designed exercises and in person performances. Anyway, let us see what, Po Po has done already though he hailed from a remote i.e. 3rd city of Myanmar.

He has staged Solo exhibitions w.e.f 1987 to nowadays caption "Untitled", Yangon, "Solid Concepts,' "Wild Eye", "Gangaw," "Htanoung Shadow," Message etc. To put it in a nutshell, he earned his name and reputation by stainlessly pure approaches and endeavors. To my surprise, he is recognised by a good many famous artists in Yangon, Myanmar, and is praised by them. He has got international taste, touch and architectural and civil concepts. I think his vision is webbed by scientific and weired dominations. Being an ambitious artist he is striving to his best to climb up to the apex of artistic field. When I look at his Resume, it is as easy as a plain parquet. No frills, no finials and no knitting fabric. Most of his solo exhibitions and group exhibitions were dominated with news or dynamic titles Judson Church, Universities and colleges and above all messages. By weighing there notions and tandrums, tempest in the brain I may say, he is a real pains taking philosopher cum artist. As the resumes of Myanmar artists and artistes become more Americanised and westernised, they never, I mean almost all, mention or give proper exposure on their family trees or their parents. Well, in a word, Po Po is simple but weird not shady but uncertain, well known but unseen, something like Howard Huges at present.

"NCS"

One day, may be one of the piping hot days in Yangon, Nan Nan, a very chick, weird, feelike, one and only and dynamic sculptress, stage a modern sculpture and art show at the old and forgotten Lokanat Galleries, 62, Pansodan Rd, Yangon. As Nan Nan was one of my Language students, I dared to peep at them from my petite room, and nosed about where was going on. There and there, I saw a young, loud-speaking, young man spraying NN's name on the billboard. I did not know was he. But I have noticed that he was a good signboard designer. After two, days later we had a talk and I came to realise that he was Nyein Chan Su. (In Myanmar Peace prize). I recalled his name immediately because, once an American by the name of Andrew mentioned about him. Andrew told me NCS is very promising though NCS's name was never stored in my mental computer. Fortunately, he and his colleagues staged a group show at the LKT galleries and it was very successful but not a single piece was sold out. I was annoyed and dazed for days. I had small talks with NCS. He is friendly, simple, ambitious, weird and laughing young man. We talked about my articles on arts and architecture and we had a fun. For when wrote something about someone, that particular someone I mean artist seemed to be offended and shied away from me. The possible reason is that I put my own view or attitude towards their works and they got offended. My weakness or artlessness is that I could not write about them under the banner of yes-manism and ask paintings from them. Well, I am making a stupid diversion as usual.

NCS was born in Yangon, Myanmar in 1973. He has been lingering and loitering in Yangon up to now. He, as an ambitious and creating young artist, he is doing many colourful and eye catching things to become the most, outstanding modern artist in Myanmar. I heard from my students that he put barbed wire diadem on his head and walked up and down, to and fro on the streets of "City Yangon" He is a graduate from the state school of Fine Arts in Yangon in 1994. After three years he got deeply engaged in the arena of arts and sculpture.

He has lain the exhibitions at LKT galleries, Ivy, and Myanmar Gallery of Contemporary Art, Yangon. The thing to write home about is that his second exhibition is NUDE. Well, "nude" is good for very young people and jet set. But, nevertheless, I am very sorry to say that it cannot be hanged in a church or shrine or at a convention hall. Well, NUDE is good for "velvet-feel-liking" people I am afraid. Maybe, NUDE might lead to VOYEURISM. There are verbal hearsays about NCS whom I take notice at present.

Some said his paintings were sold to foreigners at very high prices. Some said his painting are staged at foreign galleries. I like his paintings staged at the LKT but as they were a bit expensive for a writer like me, they were beyond my reach. So, I told to NCS-that I like his but I can't afford them. He said nothing in a proper response but smiled. Oh my! He has got an old head on a very young shoulder. He knew how to apply: "Mum is the word." and: "Some words are better left unsaid." May NCS earn a real NCS (Peaceful reward) as to his lovely and attractive brush-name. May he be a businesslike, friendly, steady, brave and bold brusher! May he earn as he creates and creates within the frame of reason and mother nature!

In fact, everybody need a dominating mentor or a good hater or a practical rival sometimes. Likewise, my mentor urged me to write or enlist MPP. Ye Myint, an artist, middle-aged~ Mandalay born, respectable, agreeable gentleman in my T T. Retarded as I do not know him properly, as all writers do enjoy to write and live with their limited friends. They write about their friends, rivals estranged ones, beloveds departed ones as their vision and emotions are fenced with favourism and self

importance and "I-conceit" in a sense. Well, to make the long story short, I have decided to write some lines about him as my mentors, betters and bigwigs asked me to write about him in my T T.

Ye Myint, wearing a stylish or I might even say, go - go spectacles is a 1970 product of the Mandalay State School of Fine Arts. He launched and penetrated into the arena of fine arts with effect from 1979 by staging Solo Exhibitions in Yangon the city. Some Group ExhibitionsS such as Omnibus 1995 Substation Singapore 1996, Taipei International Art fair, Three Men Feature, Singapore, Asean. Masterworks Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Imaging Selves, Singapore Art Museum, Identity / Anonymity, Singapore and Fukuoka Triennal 1999, the 5th Asean Art Show, Japan and many a remarkable shows were staged boldly and painstakingly.

The above mentioned artist's works are selling like hot cakes in local and foreign soils. M P P. Ye Myint because hit and popular as a fruitful result of his industry and P.R diplomacy and R & D approaches. For the time being, I am very sorry to write that some famous or promising rising stars are retarded to meet with art writers like me. Sorry shy away in fear of critics and entanglement in verbal contacts and concept mingle bullfights. Anyhow, he is a noteworthy gentlemanly artist whom I would like to meet and have millions of words and write them down into a booklet on him. It might be a blind date and very exciting meeting which might bear colurful fruits for the particular body of rising and hit artist of this fast moving era. May he, M P P Yei Myint speed up at 500,000 m.p.h and do good to our society of artists and art-related human being at large.

MAUNG DI (a) MYO NYUNT

Maung Di (a) Myo Nuynt (a) Poet (a) genius writer (a) Illustrator. In fact I should have written earlier about him in this lengthy article. For he is second most close friend of mine since last 30 years, like Khin Maung Yin, Paw Oo Thett, Panchi Maung Ngwe Htoon, Shwe Aung Thein, Win Pe, Paw Thame, Tin Win, Bo Kyi, Pe Nyunt Way, Win Pe Myint, Sunn Myint, Thaung Han, San Toe, Dr. Hla Myint, MIT Kyaw Minn and Sway Tint. My flames of writing is going to die down very soon. Nevertheless I think I should bite the bullet to get to my destination. Come hell or high water as the saying is to my wool gathering grey stuff, I met him at Ye Htoon's office by chance. On that particular moment, Maung Theitdi, Hla Kyi, POT, Kyaw Minn and Thein Tun, Aung Din and Tin Htoo Sein were there MD = Maung Di, in rags smiling foolishly in stupid and naive manner, I left him in the cold.

Met Maung Di, went out drank together and sometimes fetched taxis together. On the cabs we talked over on life, love, bitterness of poverty electronics, literature, arts and crafts and on news development. Naturally, we had disputes and we did not share the same views and concepts. He was very lean to proletariat and he was very proud of him, simplicity, arttessness, nothingness, dire poverty, ignorance of English and unschoolness. Oh la la! What an artist he was! I had never seen such a naive artist in my life. Sometimes he was hostile to high society and at times he was very westernized and modernized and I might even say he is "Franconized". He had stuggled as an illustrators for periodicals for many years. M.T Nwe and I had assigned him to draw our paper ADS for years. To my astonishment he was very good at AD paper designing. His designs and illustrations were architectural creative and amazing. Though his up brings was in the fields of draughts in Upper Myanmar (Ah Nyar) he has got a European taste and touches.

He is simple and Myanmarnized but his characters are in the European features I used to crack jokes by saying, "Dear Di, I know what's in your grey stuff." Like all Myanmar realist he has a grawing urge to become a Don in Myanmar Abstract Modern and Post modern and queer Performance and Installation Arts. At present, Aung Myint, Linn Wunna,and many young dynamic forensic and smouldering young and middle- aged artists and artistes are in the train of neo presentation. As to my knowledge the ancients and betters of Myanmar arts and crafts are as follows:

UBaKyi UHanTin (Sculpture) U Khin Maung UMTinAye U Lun Gywe U Nyan Shein U Min Naing U Ba Yin Gyi U Shein Tun U Lwin U Thu Kha U Thet Nyunt U San Tin UKhinHlaing are well-known in Myanmar. Thaung Han Hla Tin Tun Thein MyinThein Maung Aye Nyo Hla Kyaw Phu San Tin Shwe Htate Tin Saw etc.

Aye Ko

Maung Maung Thein

Tin Maung Oo

Tin HlaWin Htin

Pangyi Soe Moe

Ye Myint

Thet Nyunt

In fact, Mg Di belongs to the most senior oldies in Myanmar. But as he is a poet, as a result, he is young at heart and he has been mingling and entwining with younger generations. I saw him on the uneven and crazy streets and pavements of City Yangon every now and then. He seemed to be lost and dazed when I encountered with him. He stared at me in bewilderment and agony and greeted me in forced smiles. I was positive that he was under the hellish heat of poverty as usual. He told me about Po Po, Bagyi Aung Soe, Paw Thame (USA), Maung Ngwe Htoon and about his poems. His poems are appreciated by many a poet and learned men. Though people are naming them as 4'MG DI'S POEMS", I, as for my own part, if I am not mistaken, these are "belles lettres" . Some are as novel as his altra-super modern paintings, some are the carboned copies of the comsopolitan poets and writers and some are accidentally coincided with others which are already published. He could be named as Myanmar Van Gogh, because he was once hospitalised to a hospital and his patron by the name of U Ba Than and some art-lovers sent him to clinics and forced him to enter into the ORDER OF LORD BUDDHA. He loves Paw Thame and in one of his Exhibitions he portrayed Paw Thame's portrait and labelled it as his best friend. Besides, he is attached to Khin One, artist cum vocalist, 1/2 Japonais sang a song in praise of MG DI in Myanmar. It was a hit cent pour cent. To my knowledge, POT and MG DI learnt English from KT U Kyaw Tint, my beloved father, who was once one of the most famous masters of English in Myanmar. He was seen at some platform giving teashops sitting on 6" high stools and giving lectures to his disciples on philosophy and arts. He dresses in typical Upper Myanmar style (Anyar) and smokes Myanmar cheroots (local cigarettes). Being hit and beaten by the severe poverty, his subconscious mind and semi-conscious mind were in a tantrum for ages. As a result, he is capable of producing queer and weird ideas and paintings. In fact, Maung Ngwe Tun, Paw Oo Thet, Win Pe, Khin Maung Yin, and MG Di are like four sides of a square steel frame. They are well connected and attached to one another disputed in the vale of tears, took pains to part from one another, vied for ever as done by the contemporaries, and as true as steel. All are fond of ugliness, failure, flop, washout, poverty and bitterness of departure and death.

One day, he showed a painting of an ogre drawn by him and said he wanted to earn 100 lakhs (one crore) in Kyats for this particular single painting. When I looked at it I saw nothing but a silver bowl and on it an embossed visage of an ogre. May be it is a case which displayed beyond my I.Q. He said that his entire life is in it. And in the midst of rain drops he went away without an umbrella. I pitied him and I blamed myself for I could not buy that painting for my own. I knew that he was down at heel and the worst of human sufferings visited him for millions time that he would not grin and bear them at all.

So saying out of the blue he paid a surprise visit to me on a misty day and as I was as poor as a church mouse, I offer him to take my big antique Japanese painting. He turned down my offer and went away into the thin air. After 10 ,ten years he came back to me and ask about that painting. I said I had given it away to Saw Lwin horticulturist my French class-mate. He said it was worth, million of dollars and left me in the cold and darkness. Oh Maung Di ! If you can explain me in one word, please clarify me on the changing colour of your lives. What is eating you? Please do not come and tell me: "Excuse my dust." I could not afford to buy a marble R.I.P for you my dearest alter ego!

Myint Swe (a) MS (a) Mild steel

Myint Swe (a) MS (a) Mild steel (a) High Friend or Manuscripts as I have mentioned him for times is a prolific painter. Myint Swe is an artist of the moment to some art-lovers. He is as colourful as his paintings are. Being a Rakkine he takes pains more than others. He is giving a helping hand to his staff at the Vision Gallery and his second gallery by the name of VV gallery. He has been trying to prove himself that he is a real artist in the line of multiple approaches. He was a bit annoyed and off-tracked when he took his retirement and j ilted by a lovelace . Some staged their shows at timid speed and in pinky exposure . But he showed his valour by pour all his money into his shows and paintings. He is generous, conceited, painstaking and shy sometimes as to my observation. He wishes me to meet some foreign artists and aliens to discuss on affair of arts and crafts. But as I was very bury I never attended to his invitations. At that time, though he needed my accompany very much he never uttered a word of objection or annoyance.

His life of painting and colours derived from the realism. A nature morte, still and dead object centred paintings were his Alphasal in his career. He is good at realism and still lives have earned a lot for his works. As he is a Science Graduate, he is akin to the chemicals, fabric, timber and glasses. He has an urge to become a political analyst, which he got from his father's gene. He old man, being a member of Paliament in the era of AFPFL Government, trained him how to feel for the weak, the poor, the needy and how to win friends with the rich as well. Ms had millions of white nights due to his dreams of creation and ambition. As the ambition led to success, Ms earned a reputation for being very simple and industrious. The constellation of success, reputation, popularity, fame made him to be contracted with insomnia like disease. He works like a Trojan and paints like an art machine. As I have worried his latest disease is to become an impressionist cum modern artist. Some Myanmar abstract and modern artist asked him to drink alcohol and draw the paintings. These "AB" students and bigwigs told him the drinks create new and unique paintings and asked him to drink for better production. But, Myint Swe being a stiff-necked Rakkine, could not drink as a stepping stone or as a scaffolding to produce better and creative paintings. In his mind, he took strong drink as LSD or ICE or crack. It gives eccentric unfair unreasonable effects, something like mirage is the field of pure and noble arts. He does not feel happy or to be more exact, enjoy willing when he beats other with the assistance of webs of wiles. Some asked him to dress in modern style but he, as to his up bringing and moral concept as a poor Buddhist, dresses in simple and dim clothes. He reads more than any other people and dedicate millions of hours to study English and French. As a tenderfoot, under the threat of the blue sky, he got Yangon, capital of Myanmar and footed in the vales and gorges of the Golden Valley in Bahan Township. On his arrival the Golden Valley was occupied by many rich and poweful gallery-runners. They have monopolised the beach-head already and are very retarded to pave the way for new comers and poor painters. These poor artists are bound to sell their painting at lowest prices for their pot-boiling. The Bogyoke Market Galleries were absorbing and buying the poor artists painting at "flea-market" prices almost similar to free of charge. To put the story short, MS got there, let a shanty at a high rent and run it with the assistance of Mr James (a Myanmar, a retired civil servant) and a manager. As a naive and artless person he lost his fortune even his mint and he was down at heel for months.

Oh my! Man of Sorrow please bless him, MS to be a mild steel. On the verge of ruin and withdrawal an idea stroke to him for his thin escape. Though the name of it the locality is Golden Valley, was a Wild Valley. For he could not earn to have square meal and to feed his restlings. So saying, a stroke of luck he implemented his venturous ideas. That was to get into the best society by giving his paintings gratis. He tried to pay them away as gifts to aliens, foreigners, would be customers, visitors, clients, regular customers, and indifferent bystanders. Just to create his anxiety, even though he had presented up to 100 numbers, there was no sign of productive response or demand of his paintings. He was depressed, but he bit the bullet on and on the very verge of his surrender or on the very pace to run away from the so-called colourful, lucrative, EL Dorado of Yangon city, to his awful astonishment, some newcomers abroad bought his paintings and he came to realise that his "gift statergy" has worked miraculously. From that day onwards, MS, who was bullied by the golden valley gaints, MOD seniors, AB seniors, ARTS antigue ogres, parvenues, nouveaux riches, ARTS touts and hunters smiled at him and left in the Luke-warm cold. M.S reads, creates, studies, takes pains, runs ARTS Labs, New-techniques clandestine studios and expand his arms of friendship to the various corners and poles of the beautiful earth. For him, this is not a Bank- note world but and artistic colourful world. Except when he was in the land of nods, he has been thinking how to present or transfers his lives, his alter egos lives, feelings into paintings at high speed. He has spent all his money by transforming into paintings, oils, frames, brushes, canvasses and galleries. He used to go in a style to penetrate into the elite, alien society, social summit and keeps on trying for his survival "Run, Run, Run faster" as his motto is. His maxim says, "We never fail, you never fail and I never fail. " " I'll go in fashion, I mean, simplicity, industry, bravery and layman et beau monde specialisation" as his dialogue is.

His maters are U S. Tin Shwe, U Shin Tun, U Lun Kywei, U Thein Han, U Thu Kha, and U Hla Han. He used to attend at the arts seminars, talks, bunfights and artists' and artistes' gatherings. He is always having an urge to become a linguist and he is writing many articles and stories in Myanmar in Myanmar periodicals. He is fond of having talks with U Win Pe, Paw Oo Thet, Kyee Myint Saw, Tin Tin Sann, Win Pe Myint, and Myint Soe. One day, as I was broke and on the other hand, my students, like MM, AT, YP (a) KL turned down my request to float a loan to me, I made an agonised groaning in front of pauperised M.S. And for a concrete fact, I knew that he was as stoney broke like me, I did not expect any help from him. Oh my! My Enlightened one, Lord Buddha! He came to me and gave me 10G in Kyats. (Myanmar local currency). Upon my faith, I was down at heel and I was drowning to the seabed and sinking like anything. But, due to my pride and coceit, I did not take his money gratis. As a reciprocal deed, I gave him my antique Parker 61, which I came to my hand in the year 1958 when I was a debutant at the Hteedan College in Yangon. I kept it under lock and key for 44 years but as troubles and pretty poverty visited to me for many a time I could not maintain it any longer Air revoir ma cheri mlle Parker 61. In fact handing over taking over is better than wear and fear and rust and dust. He is a kind and sporting person indeed. For this I will bear in my mind for the rest of my life. Should gratitude be a thing to be settled in kind or in cash I would settle in this life without failure. Another instance I would like to cite was James' case. James, a retired civil servant from R.I.T(Y.I.T), was my playmate, aged about 70, has been performing as a Manager at MS's VISION GALLERY. In fact, the VG is something like a salvation camp, I am afraid. All poor and needy, invalid persons, has been paying regular visits to VG and gave lectures and disturbances. M.S and they used to ask a helping hand from MS and flew away into the thin air . Some, when they got rich, or win lottery or got legacy or promoted by some institutions, they never turn up. It is Law, I may say.

When James was in trouble I mean, badly in need of money for his family, though MS was broke he gave almost of all of his savings to James. Being so, James could not leave from VG, even though he could not earn as he spent his time for the VG. To put it in a nutshell, MS is a soul who is made of gold and is always doing good to others. That is why he can portray many paintings and his presentation, colour mixure, brush-strokes become more and more exciting, clarifying and matured. MS is searching for a new effect and idea and weird result. He is searching for a miracle stroke or piece to be seanced by cosmopolitan ancient masters. He is dreaming of to

become an Asian star with international recognition. He is earning money to a certain extent as a fruitful result of his cetane and loving kindness. Being so he has many foreign friends and aliens.

Some French teachers and masters of French School in GV paid regular visits to him as MS speaks French to a certain extent. French people like his paintings because M..S. is subject to European artists colour presentation and impressional works. To sum up my comments and findings on M.S, he is in a fix and dilemma as all the would-be masters do. Which way to go? Whom to get married ? How ? Why ? Where ? How long it will take?

May MS become a modern living hero! May he represent all the Myanmar artists? May he earn and famous as his betters did ? Well, I should say the last stall the first as the saying is PNW = Pe Nyunt Way, A young dynamic artist from Upper Myanmar, with appropriate and proper education art education from the State School, enters into the field of arts by footing in the LKN gallery. He is well known for his designs and modern paintings. To my knowledge, his views and approaches are architectural and scientific. He is very close to Paw Oo Thette, Win Pe, Tin Win, Win Pe Myint, Khin Maung Yin, Bo Kyi, San Myint, Tin Tin Sann and many other famous artists. He is a smokers but not a drunkard, modernised but not subject to reckless night life. He has been struggling to survive for many years. He is helping to all the newcomers and contemporary artists. When I asked him to give me facts and data on his works he gave them within three days. Some artists would like to be famous but they are ashamed of giving their resume, photographs, exhibition pamphlets and relevant papers. Being so, as an arts writer, it is very annoying to collect particulars on Myanmar artists and artistes. Why are they so shy and reserved ? Do they want to wink in the darkness? Don't they know publicity leads to fame? Fame leads to popularity and popularity and fame make loads and loads of money ? Money makes the man and money talks. If they want to lie low and apply the theory of "Mum is the word," why do not they go to Antatica or Siberia or to the Ebony forests and paint them and ran away the beach of Nepals and throw their pieces into the bluish vast sea for the deadly and diabolic sharks to chew them out? Oh la la! Rats! I don't think some eccentric world famous artists and artistes are (were) indifferent to fame, reputation, power, money, riches, and popularity. To my knowledge ambitions gnaws the poetic, sensitive, moonish, romantic, and creatives souls on earth.

Well, MS, being a shy and conceited man, always tries to conceal his new feelings and goals except in his paintings and writings. Whenever, I gave an advise to shave and dye and dress well, he used to reply that he would like to become an artist-like, simple man and would to lie low. In addition he said that fame and riches are hazardous to life.

Pulling down the curtain

Well, I have been writing my article like an artist's isms. I think a little deranged and offbalanced and off-tracked. My TT Com artists in Myanmar is only the frame in my imagination screen and in my mind's eye. My version at present and my reach at present urges me to write on them. Everything is changing except change' as the saying is. TT is changing every second as the clouds do. Some, TT are hidden and shying away. Some are concealing the suiciding themselves like H.IV, after their complete success and torture to his beloveds. Some are taking false sweating endeavours to become or emerge as one of the T Ts in Myanmar. But, I am afraid, the ladder to the TT is very high and trouble some. There is always room at the top is only an spur to the unreasonable and slugghish persons.

My message is: Myanmar arts and crafts are pure Myanmar, provided that you feel and read in a different knowledge and sense. TT are the aces for the time being. If they do not try hard, or if their pretty hearts turn ugly, they will dwindle to nothing. On the other hand, if the people at large do not know who is who in Myanmar. How can they make a choice to and buy Myanmar paintings when they got Myanmar. It is only food for thought for the tourists, aliens, foreigners and art-lovers. It is only an angle of appreciation and introduction on Myanmar TT Com art. Do you have an urge to promote Myanmar arts and crafts ? Buying one of them is more than a sympathy. Buying in person is louder than kind words, but at reasonable international rate, of course. Read many articles on Myanmar artists and artistes. The more you know them, the more you will appreciate them.

Semper

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