Thavibu Contemporary Art from Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar/Burma

My Outlook and Attitudes Towards Art and Life, by Myint Swe (1999)


1. An artful and emotional painting should be centred on themes. One can't paint on purpose without feelings and being in the mood.


2. It is know that poison is an awful medicine.


3. Virtue and vice depend on the individual. Love and hatred depend on the recipient.


4. A painter or artist should not blacken his heart, which is like a snow-white canvass.


5. The truth will never fade away or weaken.


6. Man beautifies and embellishes the world. And we ourselves destroy it.


7. The origin of a priceless ruby is very rough and is found in wild valleys with rocky mountains.


8. An artist knows more about freedom and the taste of arts than others.


9. Man has to spend a lot of money for his happiness. But an artist needs tubes of paint, canvasses and brushes only.


10. The strong stunt man Erno can lift 1000 Kg of weight, but he can't lift a single paintbrush.


11. By the stroke of a brush which lasted for one second only, a painting was produced which lasted for many years. A quick-made painting is ever priceless.


12. The smarter an artist, the shabbier his sarong (longgyis)


13. An artist needs no lawyers.


14. A conjuror can mislead a small group; an artist can mislead the entire world.


15. When an artist uses his lover as a model, they never become spouses. Because the lover understands that she is very pretty.


16. Most artists are far-sighted and tolerant when they paint. But in other affairs, they are very short-tempered.


17. War takes a moment, but planning and pointing to a map takes longer. Painting or drawings can be done in no time. But thinking and consideration take time.


18. Paint and be a painter. If you got talent, the whole world will upgrade you.


19. People are mad with love, education, riches, and power. But I'm a painting fool.


20. Painters and lovers are one and the same! We pamper our lovers. And paintings pamper us.


21. My abilities are based on the mixture of experiences in life and painting.


Myint Swe, Artist
Yangon, Myanmar