The three dear friends, Mai Long, Lưu Công Nhân and Trần Lưu Hậu.
Photo taken around the late 1990s
A letter with drawing Lưu Công Nhân sent to his two friends, he also sent letters with drawings of flowers,
young women and landscapes to them
(Through materials artist Mai Long shared to the writer since 2016)
During their lifetime, artists Lưu Công Nhân, Trần Lưu Hậu and Mai Long had a deep friendship of more than half a century from the time they studied together at the Resistance Class.
That friendship was always warm, dear and faithful. This is evidenced in the content of letters from Lưu Công Nhân sent jointly to Trần Lưu Hậu and Mai Long. He always began: Dear Mai Long, Hậu…
In those letters, Lưu Công Nhân shared about his life, his painting, his residence in Đà Lạt or about his trips to remote provinces, exhibitions, book printing… The letters were sometimes written at 3:30 am, 4:00 am, 4:30 am, 10:00 am…
In 2002, artist Lưu Công Nhân moved to Đà Lạt. In his letters to his friends Mai Long and Trần Lưu Hậu, he often described the beautiful scenery with trees, the scent of flowers, the blue sky and the cold of Đà Lạt; he told his two friends about painting; and always wished to receive letters and fly to Hà Nội to meet them. He also complained about his health getting weaker. He also regularly sent best wishes to his friends’ families.
Artist Lưu Công Nhân and artist Mai Long were both born in 1930. Artist Trần Lưu Hậu was born in 1928, 2 years older than his friends. But they all call each other by name, very intimately. In 2007, Lưu Công Nhân left first. 15 years later (2022), Trần Lưu Hậu also passed away. And 2 years later – July 21, 2024, artist Mai Long has just left this world.
At this time, the three friends have met and happily chatted at the other side of the world. Perhaps, they are sipping a glass of beer next to a goat hot pot like the dream of Lưu Công Nhân who wrote in a letter “Mai Long – Hậu, I miss you guys and goat hot pot so much. I’m sitting here yawning! Wishing you and your family good health and happiness.”
Written by Viet Art View
Copyrights belong to Viet Art View
