Exhibitions
Yangon Gallery
Jan 19 - Jan 20, 2019
Written by Misao Kasamatsu / Translated by AURA ART
A sedate-looking art museum, Yangon Gallery, is located in a corner of People's Park, one of Yangon's largest green spaces which is familiar to many people. 'The Beauty of Natural Art', an exhibition on the theme of female nudes, was held at the gallery, which is surrounded by greenery, for two days from 19th to 20th January 2019.
Speaking of nude paintings, many people probably have the image of realistic paintings such as those seen in western art. At the exhibition, where artists from Myanmar gathered together, many works were depicted with delicate depictions of the natural beauty of the naked body and many canvases were on display.
On the other hand, there were works such as those by Mr. Houng Aung that represented women in an abstract form with concise lines and patterns and unique color schemes. In addition, Mr. Tonghan's work, which was also used for the event's announcement, depicted a fictional creature the mermaid. It was an imaginary mermaid, but it was a life like figure, just as if it were there.
Many of the artists are based in Myanmar, so the majority of the models depicted were women who are thought to be Myanmarese. In Minzayaau's work, there are several women who cannot be seen, but have long, black hair bundled together in one piece behind their heads and they have pierced ears. These styles are common among women from Myanmar, regardless of whether they are from urban or rural areas.
The detailed depiction is impressive, as if the landscape was extracted as is.
Win Khaing's work appears to cut off from the more distinctive Myanmar culture. A woman sitting back in an orange-painted background is depicted, but she is wearing Myanmar's traditional longyi clothing. It is not the type of longyi that can be seen all over town, but a longyi for bathing. In Myanmar, where bathrooms are not separate as in they are Japan, there is a custom of washing one's body in a specific form of longyi when bathing, and is a piece that brilliantly incorporates Myanmar's unique culture into the arts.
The bright orange color on over the entire canvas attracted viewers.
Among more than 70 different works, there was a piece that depicted only one male nude. This was by Mr. Khin Zaw Latt, and it was a monochrome version of a man with a masculine body. The background of rough texture and the use of monochrome colors while carefully depicting a figure, and made us feel the beauty as well as its the robustness.
In Myanmar, where gender relations are conservative, an exhibition of nude women paintings is still unusual. Perhaps influenced by the theme, many of the viewers were male. However, there were also few female viewers, and some of them were taking pictures enthusiastically. The artists themselves were also seen to be enjoying the event.
Yangon Gallery
An art gallery located in People's Park facing Shedagon Pagoda. It holds a wide range of events, including exhibitions, workshops, and seminars.
