During Saigon COVID lockdown in July 2021, two artists established an Instagram account named @1202tv (2021 spelled backward) to spread positivity and direct public attention towards more healthy and relevant information. This account was imagined as an old cartoon television channel portraying a parallel world that includes two shows: Blah Show and Be Show. Together they portrayed the tale written by reality with its heroes, challenges, spirits, and lessons. The channel was updated regularly to keep relevant pace with the actual world, intend to create a space on social newsfeed where our folks could pause, breathe and perceive things from a slightly different angle.
B E
/ b e /
Owning the name means beige in Vietnamese, Be Show explores its subtle radiant color scheme to honor the charms of ordinary life. Its ultimate purpose is to celebrate love and understanding, encourage mindful be-ing, and spark a healing light into those deep and starless nights.
Artist: Tú Ngô
Artist: Tú Ngô
―
Lockdown & Isolation
“The only thing that we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
― Gandalf, Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien
― Gandalf, Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien
―
At the peak of the pandemic
Drawn from a photo taken by Mr. Ngo Tran Hai An
B L A H
/ b l ɑ ː /
Owning the name reminding of daily chattering, Blah Show unfolds the Saigonese way of living to adapt, protect themselves, and contribute to the community amid the situation. It depicts the dark time with a cheerful and comical voice, sometimes the bitty facts with quiet sympathy.
Artist: Vy Mai
"In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times."
― Bertolt Brecht
