Exhibitions
Yangon Gallery
Feb 09 - Feb 10, 2019
Written by Misao Kasamatsu, Translated by AURA Art
People's Park, the largest green space in Yangon, is a place where people can relax. The Yangon Gallery, located to southwest of the park, held an exhibition called 'Karen Diary' on the theme of the Karen people in Myanmar for two days, from 9th to 10th February 2019.
Myanmar is a multiethnic country consisting of more than 130 tribes. Among them, the exhibition introduces their culture and lives through works which focus the Karens who live in the mountainous areas of eastern and southern Myanmar.
In other words, the societies and cultures of the Karen people are quite diverse from region to region. Nevertheless, the majority of the Karen people live along mountainous rivers and earn a living through paddy cultivation and fishing, as depicted by Saw Nyen Chan and Phoe Sa.
There were also many works depicting the lives of the Karens surrounded by nature. Pann Kyi's work, dubbed 'Warr taw' (bamboo grove) in Myanmar, features a bamboo forest that is more than a dozen meters in height, and a Karen-like woman. This work was actually one of a pair of pieces, one of which was a green bamboo forest, reminiscent of spring or morning, and the other was a golden bamboo forest reminiscent of autumn or dusk.
Depicts the transitions of the changing seasons.
Longyi is famous as an ethnic Myanmar costume, but its shape and pattern varies between ethnic groups, and it does not necessarily always take the form of a wrapped skirt. In the case of the Karen people, they wear longyis every day, but their own traditional costumes such as one-piece dresses are worn during festivals and other events.
In Saw Kyaw Zaw's works 'Karen Beauty' and 'Pa-O Lady', women wearing longyis and their own traditional costumes are depicted.
In addition, Phyu Phyu Maw uses only traditional costumes as a subject in a piece called 'I Love Kayim'.
Kayim means Karen in Burmese.
John Khai's work is also distinctive. It is a series consisting of four sheets such as 'To Home' and 'Sweet Home'.
All of them are impressed by the gray background and the colorful trees and human figures as if they were in contrast. It is also strange that people's expressions are not visible.
Perhaps the most well-known Myanmar leader today is Aung San Suu Kyi, who serves as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Several works depicting the history of her and the Karens were also exhibited, such as those painted on the occasion of her visit to Karen State, and a scene with people who seemed to be leaders of the Karen National Union, an armed anti-government organization.
Yangon Gallery
An art gallery located in People's Park, facing Shwedagon Pagoda. It holds a wide range of events, including exhibitions, workshops, and seminars.
Yangon Gallery
