MYANMAR ARTISTS REFLECT ON THE PAST AND ENVISION THE FUTURE
A glimpse into our exhibition lecture and workshop project:
When Artists Beyond Boundaries Yangon 2017 opened on June 16 in the American Center’s Gallery, visitors were greeted with an exhibition that blended the works of 24 established and emerging artists who hailed from six different ethnic regions. Eight of them were women. Wanting to explore the ways in which regional artists had responded to the cultural and political changes in Myanmar over the past ten years, Preckler and Blotner chose individuals who had lived and worked under dictatorship and as well as their younger compatriots who had come to artistic maturity during Myanmar’s transition to democracy. The ABB program began with curator and artist lectures on art and social issues. Artists Beyond Boundaries team also took the opportunity to join American Center CAO, Winnie Hofstetter, and her staff, at the Hmen Kin Parahita Orphanage, just outside Yangon, for a day of art making with their elementary school students. The next day, they set up shop at downtown Yangon art center, Pansodan Scene, where they gave open studio demonstrations and workshops. The ABB Yangon Project culminated with a 3- day collaborative studio event at Pansodan Scene in which participants – professional artists, art students and community members – shared processes and exchanged ideas as they worked together to create exciting new works. The ABB exhibition, workshops and collaborative studio worked together to shine a light on contemporary visual arts in Yangon and how transition, expansion and growth continue to emanate from the country’s new freedoms and expanded geographical and conceptual boundaries. The ABB exhibition, workshops and collaborative studio worked together to shine a light on contemporary visual arts in Yangon and how transition, expansion and growth continue to emanate from the country’s new freedoms and expanded geographical and conceptual boundaries.
– Pamela Blotner and Mie Preckler
Acknowledgements
The Curators would like to thank the following people whose hard work and dedication made this project happen: Our Artists Beyond Boundaries Yangon 2017 Team: Elizabeth Addison, Cynthia Myint Soe and Aung Myint Tun – Winnie Hofstetter and her team at the American Center of the U.S. Embassy: Aye Aye Nyein, Aye Mon, Tun Aung, Kyaw Khaing, Min Thiha Soe and the kind and skilled workers who helped us install the exhibition at the Center’s Gallery-Aung Soe Min and Nance Cunningham and their team at Pansodan Scene and Gallery.
We salute our ABB Yangon 2017 artists: Aung Ko, Aung Myint, Chan Aye, Htein Lin, Kyi Wynn, Ko Z, Ma Ei, Mayco Naing, Moe Satt, Myat Tun Aung, Nann Nann, Nge Lay, Nyein Chan Su (NCS), Pe Nyunt Way, Phyu Mon, San Minn, Soe Yu Nwe, Sonny Nyein, Thar Gyi, The Maw Naing, Tin Win, Yadanar, Zoncy, ZZDD. In addition, we would like to thank Beikthano Gallery, Tun Lin, Sann Sann Myint, John Barrett, Jeanne Marie Hallacy and all our friends and supporters in Myanmar and the United States.