“DAUGHTER OF THE WATER GOD”

I had to wait until the aftermath of the storm Yagi subsided before posting this work. The painting was completed during the stormy days, but it is not meant to illustrate floods. It was started long before and speaks about the societal situation that young people today have to wade into. Recently, I happened to read an article by journalist Đinh Đức Hoàng and felt a great sense of connection. Although not entirely the same, when you read that article, you will somewhat understand this painting. Let me quote:

“…older generations always tend to complain about the younger ones. It’s not just the 8x thinking the 9x are frail, or the 9x seeing Gen Z as weak. This has been happening for centuries. Until recently, I still thought the same about my younger siblings. But now, I don’t think that way anymore. It seems like they all are facing more challenges than I did. And it takes more courage to survive.

Back in the day, I was probably lucky because, in that little rented attic, there was only a flip phone for me to sing to myself. To be sad, and to yearn to escape from that place. Now, I see a massive market trading in comfort. People trade comfort like a drug they crave but can’t legally sell.

The consumer goods market, which has been trading comfort for half a century, now, thanks to the liberation of fast fashion brands, turns it into an industry. People participate in shopping, buying cheap things that create waste for the planet, not for actual use, but to experience the act of shopping. It has almost become a minimal economic activity, to affirm the existence of many people (and to escape the feeling of not having purchased things that truly improve quality of life). Sellers design entire paths to comfort customers’ emotions through owning trivial, fashionable items.

The content market, which has been trading in comfort since its inception, now doesn’t want to sell anything else. Content creators sell us the feeling of belonging to a larger community. It’s very comforting, and highly addictive…”