Burmese artist Htein Lin, who spent over six years as a political prisoner, will exhibit recent works at the Suvannabhumi gallery in Chiang Mai from 13-18 March. This solo show, his 6th, is entitled 'Twenty Years On'. It is timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the day (13 March 1988) that student Phone Maw was killed in a teashop brawl. This incident was widely seen as sparking the events culminating in August/September 1988's pro-democracy demonstrations. It is celebrated annually by Burmese activists as Burma Human Rights Day.
Htein Lin, who was born in 1966, saw his political career begin as a result of this incident. He and many fellow students protested the handling of the incident by the Burmese government and were expelled as a result. He went on to become a student leader in the 1988 uprising, before becoming an artist. His career was interrupted by six and a half years as a political prisoner from 1998-2004, but he managed to paint several hundred paintings in jail on cotton clothing using unconventional materials to print with in place of brushes, and creating strong expressionist and abstract works in constrained circumstances. Since his release, he has continued to build on the creative techniques he developed while imprisoned. His latest canvases draw on his experiences as an activist, artist and performer in Burma, and on recent events, including last September's 'Saffron Revolution'.
The exhibition in Chiang Mai will include recent works on canvas, and a small selection of his original prison paintings. These were the subject of a solo show at Asia House in London in 2007, where Htein Lin now lives (see www.hteinlin.com for more details).
The exhibition opening on the evening of 13 March will feature one of Htein Lin’s poignant and thought-provoking performances reflecting the current political situation in Burma.
The Suvannabhumi Gallery specialises in showing the work of Burmese artists.
For further information, images and interviews please contact:artisthteinlin@gmail.com
or
The Suvannabhumi Gallery, 116-118 Charoenrat Road, T. Watgate, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, suvmarmar@gmail.com/phone 081 031 5309
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