Myanmar [Burmese] Artists

Burma was renamed (Union of) Myanmar in 1989. The development within the contemporary art scene in Myanmar has started to develop rapidly. It is mainly concentrated in Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay, the two largest cities. Oil and watercolour are still the most popular media. Motifs, in the vast majority of cases have traditionally been rural village life scenes and or idyllic scenes depicting Buddhist temples and pagodas. Some artists are starting to explore contemporary art, and there is quite a large number of activist artists who explore all kinds of new media including video works, installations, art performances, etc. When looking at Myanmar contemporary art, one should keep in mind that the country has been more or less isolated from the rest of the world for over thirty years, and hence the art mostly reflects traditional values and ways of life on one side, while the activist art exists as a whole different entity. One characteristic feature of art education or training in Myanmar is the continued system of apprenticeship. Studying in the workshop of an old master is placed in high regard.

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