Bửu Chỉ (1948-2002)

It has been a perfect two years on December 14, 2004, since Bửu Chỉ departed this world to join the World of Trịnh Công Sơn (1939- 2001). By nine years Trịnh Công Sơn's junior, yet Bửu Chỉ was a close friend of Trịnh Công Sơn, whole heartily sharing in the same ideals. At every turn of the country’s history or simply in this existence, the two friends moved on side by side, whether during the sit-in days or throughout the sleepless nights of anti-war protest, whether in music or in painting, each a master in his own right, but together forging the voice that demands that "We must see the sun".

Almost 30 years after peace was restored, Trịnh Công Sơn’s collection "Songs of the Yellow Skinned" still remains censored. After Trịnh Công Sơn’s death, Bửu Chỉ, unflappable, would "raise his hand" to speak "My thoughts about Trịnh Công Sơn and his anti-war songs". In turn, prior to that date, during the painting new era movement, Trịnh Công Sơn had passionately explained "Bửu Chỉ, a rebel by nature".

Lastly, before coming home together to the ultimate Realm of return, the two friends enjoyed exhibiting their paintings jointly, with Đinh Cường, in a memorable show (view Bửu Chỉ's, Đinh Cường's and Trịnh Công Sơn's artworks). Sadly , Bửu Chỉ never had a chance to craddle in his hands the published book "Tranh Bửu Chỉ, Bửu Chỉ's Drawings and Paintings", a beautiful and impressive work that he himself had initiated in early 2002 (published by NXB Trẻ as a bilingual edition, 2003, dimension 30x30 cm, 132 pages, 250 000 VND).

PvĐ
14/12/2004
Translated by VM