I AM HERE, THE TIME IS NOW

The Vietnam War ended more than 30 years. For me, a painter who had been participating in the war that had recorded the war’s image, the lives of those soldiers, people on the battlefield, also I am over 70 years. Everything has passed and seem to fall into obscurity of the young generation about human, social and artistic. These memories and sketches during the war for me are extreme worth because they are the unique and never recur again. I kept them throughout the war, under the bullets bombs, rainfall and wind, these are still, but lost some. But nowaday, the past with memories and memorabilia that I always keep and respect are being forgotten by young generation. However, since the program "I AM HERE, THE TIME IS NOW" Ong Keng Seng met me several times, asked a range of the Viet Nam war, saw pictures of my sign painter, my sketches, he viewed and studied, more than a study art person, and heard meticulously events, situations, my feelings and emotion when making the picture in the battle field, these memories that I have never told anybody, including my relatives, simply because I know they are not interested. Ong Keng Seng explained to me about the meaning of the exchange program to meet the artists of the generation in 60-70’s years and the young generation artists from many countries in the world with the project "I AM HERE, THE TIME IS NOW ". No present that does not bring the past in itself and it's also no present operates without any trend to the future, this is a program, a content that European culture wants to mention about the young, present generation. I just stated: "How an idea in depth and practical is!"
The problem does not stop there, the main is the exchange between generations, the type of art, the style art from the time and many different countries in different circumstances each other are performed, FAQ, exchange, thoughts and contemplate. There is not any answer, not any same reply because simply it is culture. Through this event I have freed up resources my sadness of the "past", but the more important that it raises an inspired opening mind. From the questions: "You used to say that you participated in revolution because of your ideal for independent freedom for the peoples, because you was disgusted unfair, oppressive, exploitation, bureaucracy bribery of Nguy’s government. Today, although Viet nam is liberated but those scenes still keep going, so what do you think? Do you regret for your dedication in the war? As you see the performances, what do you feel all forms of art have changed from young generation?" I answered: "The ethnic liberation of Vietnamese people, I think it was just as independent, democratic and freedom owners with meaningful geographic, administrative, political, but liberation struggle peoples with the proper function of it it still has more work to do. I think that if someone devote for justice... they should keep struggling. I see you and myself have some differences as times, styles, forms of art … but we still have one common feature is the role of art that is always a struggle to balance social, and the artists in any times, they have to revote for art, like you did in your works, your performances here and now”.
From questions and answers in this program, they made me think and relate to a truth of humanity from ancient "Culture and arts always is a tool of struggle for justice, the survival of human society”. A truth has been demonstrated through the period of history. Now, Is the world too interested in measures of power by legal, administrative, political and war, violence or money to solve problems balanced society from state this status through the other? People have forgotten or overlooked a stable measure of balance in society that is developing and is investing social and cultural humanity in general and areas of cultural arts others. Right in my country, after the war, people see art culture war period has expired. Culture and art is a tool of war has ended, with the return of cultural arts called true. So, "What is true art?" From the speech of Mrs. Gulsun (Turkey) on the status of “mawkish art” in Turkey after the opening period, I realize that, the true art is currently spreading in my country, there are a lot of “mawkish art”, it not only in cheap arts but also right in the others contemporary forms.
A question on expectations of the exchanges that: "How is cultural art today? How is it? And where is it going? "The young people today only nose on the internet and then make out, no creating, exploring anymore ... many issues raise. In short, this is the direction. While the country’s managers, investors want to force humanity by the shaft of their power. I think it's time the world must wake up that the existence is both spiritual and material also known as culture. How is the problem for today's culture of humanity like? And it should take spiritual life, cultural life in a material life more balanced. And returning the struggled function and keep the balance of society to it.
I think as this project towards this desire. If that is right then it should be spread wider.