Wider World by CS

Burma to hold national art and sculpture exhibit

Thursday, 23 August 2012 13:56 Lin Ko Ko Htet

Rangoon (Mizzima) – A national art and sculpture exhibition expected to attract Burma’s finest new and established artists will be held in Tatmadaw Hall in Rangoon in December. About 700 Burmese artists and sculptors will exhibit their art in the five-day exhibition.

An oil painting titled Bagan by the Burmese artist Saw Hlaing.  Photo: artsmyanmar.org

Any size of art can be exhibited and it can be sold in the exhibition, said Ni Po Oo, the secretary of the Myanmar Traditional Artistes and Artisans Association. He said up to about 1,500 works will be shown. The exact date will be announced later.

A censorship board will scrutinize the art that will be exhibited, he said. In art exhibitions held in previous years, works that were considered politically or culturally inappropriate were not allowed, but restrictions will be relaxed this year, said Ni Po Oo.

The Myanmar Traditional Artistes and Artisans Association, the sponsor of the exhibition, includes artists who work in 10 traditional Burmese arts and crafts.

In the first nationwide art and sculpture exhibit held in 2006, sales totaled around 17 million kyat (US$ 19,400). Twenty per cent of the sale price goes to the association. Only active members of the association can exhibit. Currently, the association has about 4,000 members, with about 700 active members, said officials. The first nationwide exhibit displayed about 1,500 works.

An artist, Taryar, 36, said the exhibit would offer people a chance to see fresh work from emerging artists.

“Not only fresh graduates of art schools in the whole country but also famous artists will exhibit,” he said. “Young artists will have more opportunities and experienced artists will be able to exhibit their new creations.”

Artists who want to exhibit must submit a short description of the work (name of the art, type, size and the artist’s name, address and phone number) to the High School of Art [Chin Chaung] on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Rangoon, between August 25 and September 10. For more information, contact the art association.